Lucy John and Alice Morris to shave their heads in memory of Charley Findlay

Charley and Callum on their wedding day

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Lucy John and Alice Morris, are set to shave their heads in memory of their dear friend Charley Findlay on what would be her 30th birthday on 30 September.

Charley, 29, from Rochdale, died from an aggressive form of cancer on 12 June, just 10 days after her wedding.

Lucy explained: “Alice said she had been thinking of doing it but was waiting until after her wedding. I said I would do it with her and suggested waiting until the 30th as that would have been Charley’s 30th birthday.”

The trio first met when they were 16, working as sailing instructors at Hollingworth Lake in 2004.

Lucy said: “Charley was a wonderfully enthusiastic and passionate teacher, and she also taught trampolining at her local club. I remember feeling incredibly lucky to have her as a friend. New staff came and went at the lake and despite all travelling off to different corners of the world, we remained in touch.

“Over the years, we have drunk, sailed and laughed together more than I care to imagine - usually laughing at Charley for coming out with one her many ‘Charley-isms.’

“She was beautiful in every way, and anyone who knew her only ever had kind words to say about her. Throughout our friendship, Charley had always had ups and downs with her health, but nothing could have prepared us for what was to come.”

In later years, Charley moved to Ulswater in Cumbria where she took up her dream job as a sailing development officer at the sailing school, where she also met the love of her life, Callum.

Lucy continued: “Charley ended up resigning from the job due to her ill health. She was admitted into hospital and this is when we received the news that she had cancer. She was given good odds as she was young and healthy. Unfortunately, this was not to be the case.

“Charley's health deteriorated, and eventually she was moved to the Eden Valley Hospice in Carlisle. It was here that Callum proposed. Charley's condition was worsening by the day, and so all hands were on deck to get the perfect wedding day planned for the two of them. In just over two weeks, on 2 June Charley and Callum tied the knot on the most perfect celebration of their love for one another.”

Alice and Lucy will be donating the funds raised to the Eden Valley Hospice, and their hair to be made into wigs for children undergoing chemotherapy.

Alice added: “No-one dreams of their wedding day starting in a hospice but Eden Valley was home from home. The support from the staff and the patients was amazing and the send-off to church was a wonderful start to the best day of Charley's life.

“Lucy and I will send our money to support the staff at Eden Valley in their mission making sure other people enjoy their last days as much as Charley did.”

Eden Valley Hospice provides palliative care for people from North Cumbria with incurable or life limiting illnesses, enabling them and their carers to live life as fully and as independently as possible.

To donate, visit:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/alice-walton420