A devoted mother from Bradford has raised an incredible £1,688.75 for young people battling cancer through a heartfelt auction event held at the Thornton Conservative Club.
A Mother's Tribute to Her Daughter
Karen Carr organised the fundraising auction in memory of her teenage daughter, Megan Carr, who was diagnosed with cancer and sadly passed away in December 2017. The charity Young Lives vs Cancer provided crucial support to Karen's family throughout Megan's illness, inspiring Karen to give back to the organisation that helped them during their most challenging times.
Since her daughter's passing, Karen has dedicated herself to raising both funds and awareness about cancer in young people. Her exceptional commitment was recently recognised at the Community Stars 2025 awards, where she received the prestigious Fundraiser of the Year award.
Collaborative Fundraising Success
Karen didn't work alone on this project. She joined forces with her friend Barbara Crabb, who was simultaneously fundraising for Marie Curie, the UK's leading end-of-life charity, in memory of her own loved one. Together, their combined efforts generated an amazing £3,377.50, which was split equally between both charities.
The auction night proved to be an overwhelming success, bringing together the Thornton community for a noble cause. Karen expressed her gratitude, saying: "I'm delighted to say the event was a great success and I want to thank all the Thornton locals who got behind it and were so generous with their donations."
She also praised the Thornton Conservative Club for their exceptional support: "They went above and beyond to make the night so special."
The Vital Work of Young Lives vs Cancer
The funds raised will directly support the essential services provided by Young Lives vs Cancer. The charity offers comprehensive support to families facing childhood cancer, including:
- Specialist social workers who provide day-to-day support
- Free accommodation near hospitals during treatment
- Financial grants to help cover extra costs associated with cancer
Last year alone in West Yorkshire, the charity supported 230 young people with cancer and their families. The financial burden on these families is significant, with average extra costs reaching £700 per month for expenses like hospital travel, food, and clothing.
In response to this need, Young Lives vs Cancer distributed 149 financial grants totalling £23,891 to families across West Yorkshire last year.
Krissa Ford, Young Lives vs Cancer Fundraising Engagement Manager for South and West Yorkshire, emphasised the importance of community support: "When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it's falling apart. We rely on donations to fund our vital work, and so we can't thank Karen, and everyone at Thornton Conservative Club, enough for their fantastic efforts."
Karen continues to honour her daughter's memory through her fundraising work, stating: "It feels great to be doing my bit to help this amazing charity reach those families in Megan's memory." Her story stands as a powerful testament to how personal tragedy can transform into meaningful community action that supports other families navigating similar challenges.
