Teacher’s family raise £1,000 for cancer charity in her memory

Photo: Helen Forrest

Left to right: Maggie’s Oldham fundraising manager Laura Tomlinson, Philippa’s husband Richard Shales, son Mark Shales and daughter Emma Shales

The family of a popular Rochdale primary school teacher who died aged just 54 after a battle with cancer have raised more than £1,000 for an Oldham cancer charity.

Philippa Shales died in May 2018, three years after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Throughout her illness, Philippa attended the Maggie’s Centre in Oldham, which provides emotional, practical and social support to people with cancer and their families.

Her family organised an afternoon tea and quiz event to raise money for the Maggie’s centre in memory of Philippa, who was a teacher at St Thomas’s primary school in Newhey, Rochdale.More than 50 people attended the event at St Mary’s Church in Balderstone, where Philippa was an active member, on Saturday 17 August, raising £1,026.50 for the Oldham charity.

Philippa’s son, Mark, 28, said: “Everyone had a wonderful time.

“It was really special to have so many people who knew and loved mum together in one room to celebrate her life, and raise money for a fantastic cause.

“We’d like to give a huge thank you to everyone who came along, everyone who baked cakes and scones, and everyone who donated money and raffle prizes.”

The money from the afternoon tea event brings the family’s fundraising total to more than £3,000, after Mark ran for Maggie’s Oldham in the London Marathon earlier this year.