Sponsored walks in honour of ‘Cinderella’

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Friends and family of Claire Whitehead get ready for a walk in her honour

The family and friends of a Rochdale woman who passed away earlier this week have taken part in two sponsored walks  around Hollingworth Lake in her memory.

Claire Whitehead, 22, known by many as ‘our Cinderella’ died on Tuesday (12 April 2011) after battling three brain tumours.

Today (Sunday 17 April) her friends took part in a Buggy Push, and a ‘Brief Walk’ - where they wore underwear over their clothes.

The sponsored walks had been planned to raise money to send Ms Whitehead on the trip of a life time to Disneyland.

Ms Whitehead never made that trip, but, her friends and family vowed to bring Disneyland to her by giving her a fairytale send off. The money raised today will contribute towards this.

Ms Whitehead’s twin sister, Kate, said: “Claire would have wanted us to do this even though she isn’t here. The point really is to raise awareness of cancer.”

The friends had been organising fundraising events under the banner ‘Send Cinderella to Disneyland.’ A fundraising evening planned for 30 April at the Soccer Village will still go ahead.

Ms Whitehead’s funeral, will take place tomorrow (Monday 18 April 2011) at the Rochdale Crematorium at 3.00pm. Followed by a wonderland themed wake.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/55226/tributes-paid-to-lovely-girl