In the 12 years since Consett woman Sharon Chorley lost her husband and daughter to cancer within months of one another, she's raised more than £30,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support
And now she's taking to the skies for a tandem skydive in hope of adding to that total. Sharon's daughter Toni was just 23 when she died just after Christmas 2008 after suffering from Hodgkins Lymphoma - while husband Phil had lost his fight with bowel cancer in September of that year.
Sharon owns the boutique fashion store TLC Clothing in Blackhill and through taking part in charity challenges, holding raffles and other events, she's raised thousands for the charity in the years since her family was visited by tragedy.
Read more: 'I lost my husband and daughter to cancer in weeks'
"Obviously it was a very difficult time," she said. "I was having to support them both through treatment and shuttling between hospital and home to be there for both of them. There are times now when it all feels like a dream, but I promised them I would not let them be forgotten and this sky dive is part of the commitment I made to them."
Sharon will be joining 13 other novice skydivers in Bridlington next month, and said she was excited to take part in the challenge. "I love trying new things," she said. "So this is just the next on the list. And I don’t scare easily so I’m looking forward to the experience and it's all to raise money for a great cancer charity."
Sharon and son Karl were left devastated after Toni and Phil died in quick succession. Toni - who was a promising model with aspirations to become an actor - had just moved to London in 2006 when she was diagnosed with cancer.
Sharon, who has had her own recent brush with cancer after having a skin cancer lump successfully removed late last year, is currently supporting one of her best friends through a liver cancer diagnosis too. She added: "Cancer is something that can effect anybody at any time and most of us will know someone or have had the disease ourselves during our lifetimes.
"Macmillan is a fantastic charity that provides support for all those affected by cancer from clinical expertise with their cancer specialist nurses and other clinicians to the emotional, psychological and practical support offered to friends and family."
Jill Campbell area fundraising manager for the North East of England said: "Sharon is an amazing person who has turned an overwhelming personal tragedy into a force for good. We are so grateful to her and the money she’s raised has been used to help others living with or affected by cancer, a fantastic legacy that she’s created as a fitting tribute to Toni and Phil."
To visit Sharon's fundraising page, see tributefunds.macmillan.org.uk/In-Memory/Phil-Toni-Chorley
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