A BATTENHALL woman has raised about £20,000 for charity in memory of her husband by organising a black tie event.
Tracey Collinson lost her husband Nigel to oesophagus cancer in January last year and arranged the Blue Sky Ball to support the charities that aided the couple and their two sons Henry, 11, and seven- year-old Charlie, after the diagnosis.
St Richard’s Hospice, Cancer Research UK and Hugo’s H.E.L.P all received a cheque for £6,778 at the hospice’s gardens.
The funds were raised at the event through personal donations, raffles, and auctions with one prize, a signed montage of One Direction and VIP tickets to see them in concert, going for about £3,000.
The ball was named after ELO’s hit song Mr Blue Sky which Tracey said was like their family anthem and was a reflection of Nigel’s personality.
“Nigel was diagnosed on September 27 and he passed away peacefully in my arms at home with the boys on January 2 2014 just two days after his 45th birthday,” she said.
“He was an inspirational man who lived life to the full and is missed so very much by us all. We were very very lucky to have had him in our lives. He was one in a million.”
“We played it at parties, at birthdays, at the funeral, when the people came to take Nigel from the house after he died and at the church. It’s such an upbeat song it completely symbolises who he was,” Tracey said.
Their two children have re-recorded the song at their school, Kings St Albans, to raise more money for Cancer Research UK.
The single, which was the boy’s own idea, will be released on Friday (June 12) at the school and can downloaded from Monday (June 15). They will cost £5 each with about £3.50 going to charity.
Tracey said: “The ceremony went really well and all three charities were very pleased.
“There is a lot going on and hopefully we can continue raising a lot of money for Cancer Research UK on the way.
“It’s been a really positive experience although a little exhausting,” she added.
Visit @MrBlueskyAppeal on Twitter or search for MrBlueSkyAppeal on Facebook for more information about the appeal.
