A CANCER survivor is holding a ball in memory of her mum who died of pancreatic cancer eight years ago.
Fiona Keogh will be hosting the black and white charity ball on May 18 and will be raising funds for Cancer Research UK.
The Shirley resident and her family have raised more than £11,000 in memory of her mum, Cecilia, since she died in 2011.
Before her death Cecilia organised a number of events for Cancer Research UK after her brother-in-law Pete died.
She held Halloween nights in Aston Cantlow and a Cancer Aid Band – a tradition which has been continued by Fiona, her sisters, her dad Patrick, and her husband Robin.
This year the family wanted to make it really special with the Black and White Ball.
Fiona said: “A week before my mum died, we went to visit her mother, my grandmother who was ill and had dementia.
“For the first time in ages she recognised my mum and pulled her to her holding her hand.
“Two days later she died, three days before my mum and it felt like she knew.”
Fiona was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in 2016.
She had a mastectomy and chemotherapy treatment and she said there have been no recurrence yet two years after finishing chemotherapy.
The 51-year-old said: “It was awful to find out and I thought I was going to die but I got over the treatment.
“My now husband, Robin, and my kids plus wider family were a great support.”
She married Robin last year on September 1 last year and her 18-year-old son Matt and her dad gave her away and her daughter Naomi was chief bridesmaid.
There are raffle prizes from Hatton World, David Lloyd’s Solihull and Warwickshire Cricket Club on offer at the black and white ball.
Tickets cost £18 for adults and £12 for children.
Tickets are available from on Eventbrite or by calling Fiona on 07974372305.
For more visit https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/inmemory/0001104?fbclid=IwAR1HaSukn51P2-1q6rM6H_yCuE99u_vmifAjKpBtyBz82Cj3oReqEOuTA7Y
