Family raise £21,000 for Macmillan in mum Betty's memory

Betty Burnett bravely fought cancer for three years before she lost her fight on July 10, 2010, aged 63.

Since then her family have raised £21,506.16 for Macmillan Cancer Support in her memory.

This week the charity, which provides support for people living with cancer and their families, thanked the family for their efforts.

Betty’s husband Bill Burnett, 71, from Woodfield, Peterlee, said: “Betty was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and only had a prognosis to live six months, but she battled on for three years.

“During that three-year period the Macmillan organisation were tremendous.

“We lost Betty in July 2010, and a few months after that my daughters said we should do something for Macmillan.

“We organised a charity night called Betty’s Big Bash at Shotton Hall in Peterlee which raised £12,000.

“We were gob-smacked, and the girls said we could take this a bit further.”

Since that night in 2011 the family have completed a range of fundraising events including a zip wire from the Transporter Bridge, in Middlesbrough, last year by Betty’s daughter Carole Barclay, 48, from Castle Eden.

Other events include Junior and Great North Runs, with all funds raised going to Macmillan via the Macmillan Betty’s Tribute Page.

Now the family prepare to support Carole again as she plans to take on her second zip wire event for the charity in Newcastle.

Bill added: “We didn’t expect the generosity of our friends, neighbours and companies.

“We thought if we raise a couple of grand that would be a nice ‘thank you’, but it became apparent that we would raise over £2,000 comfortably and that’s what started this whole thing.

“We just continued fundraising.”

Liz Airey, from Macmillan, thanked the family, saying: “The family have been such a fantastic support to Macmillan, raising funds and volunteering and continue to support every way they can.”

To make a donation to Macmillan in Betty’s memory, visit: https://macmillan.tributefunds.com/Betty-Burnett