Tributes paid to “lovely girl”

Claire Whitehead

A 22-year-old woman who was battling a brain tumour has died.

Tributes have been paid to Claire Whitehead, originally of Newhey, who passed away on Tuesday (12 April 2011).

Ms Whitehead, a twin to Kate Whitehead, has been described has a “lovely girl” who will be “sadly missed.”

Ms Whitehead was a pupil at Newhey County Primary School and later attended Hollingworth High School.

Two years ago Ms Whitehead moved to Blackpool but had many friends and family in Rochdale whom she remained in close contact with.

She was studying at college in Blackpool and also worked in club promotion.

Ms Whitehead’s immediate family were too upset to speak, but Becky Taylor, Ms Whitehead’s cousin, said she spoke for everyone when she said: “She was a lovely, funny, comical person.”

The friends of Ms Whitehead had been raising money to send her to Disneyland to fulfil a life long dream.

They were working under the banner ‘Send Cinderella to Disneyland’ and had organised two sponsored walks and a fundraising evening to raise money for the trip.

Sadly, Ms Whitehead never made that dream, but her friends and family have vowed to give her the fairytale send off she deserves.

Ms Taylor said: “Claire said she knew she wasn’t going to make it to Disneyland and asked us to bring Disneyland to her. Claire asked us to carry on with the walks and carry on fundraising.”

Sponsorship money already raised for the walks is contributing towards Ms Whitehead’s funeral – a funeral where everyone has to go in fancy dress, as a Disney character or characters from Tim Burton inspired films.

The sponsored walks, due to take place on Sunday (17 April 2011) will still go ahead.

On Saturday 30 April Ms Whitehead’s friends and family are hosting a charity auction and raffle evening at the Soccer Village in Milnrow.

Any money raised from the event will go towards helping 5-year-old Winter Carey, also battling a brain tumour, fulfil her dream of swimming with dolphins.

Ms Whitehead’s fairytale funeral will take place on Monday (18 April) at 3.00pm at the Rochdale Crematorium. Followed by a wonderland themed wake.

Anybody who has already sponsored, or donated to the fund can have their money returned.