Durham woman's tribute to Hetton aunt after brain tumour death

Support worker Charlotte Scott, from Gilesgate, in Durham, is doing the 20 for 20 Challenge to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.

She has been inspired to take part in memory of her aunt Margaret Nightingale, of Hetton-le-Hole, who ran social clubs in Belmont and Hetton during her professional life.

Read more: Temporary facility plans for school forced to shut for major repairs for structural issues

The 30-year-old said: “My aunty Margaret was only 64 when she died and losing her has left a huge void in my life.

“She had no children of her own but she played a maternal role within the family, having a close relationship with me, my sister Victoria and our cousins.

“She is greatly missed by her partner Bob and all her family and friends.”

Margaret was diagnosed with a brain tumour on New Year’s Day 2021 and died on April 17.

Her shock diagnosis came after members of her family, including Charlotte, noticed changes to her personality.

Margaret Nightingale's passing has left a void in the lives of her loved ones

Charlotte, who works at Pathways day centre in Durham, said: “We just knew she wasn’t right, so she went to the GP for various tests. We couldn’t believe it when we were told she had a brain tumour.”

Following Margaret’s devastating diagnosis, she was booked in to have a biopsy the following month, so doctors could find out her tumour-type and plan her treatment accordingly.

However, on February 5, she discovered the biopsy couldn’t go ahead because her disease was too far advanced.

Charlotte said: “It must’ve been a very aggressive, high-grade tumour, as there were just no treatment options available. To be told there was nothing they could do was just heart-breaking.”

Margaret’s wish was to spend her final weeks at home, so her family put a 24-hour-a-day care plan in place, taking it in turns to look after her.

Charlotte with her aunty Margaret and dad Ted

Charlotte said: “It was a privilege to be able to look after my aunty. Victoria, Bob and I were there for her, along with her other nieces, Angela and Tracey, her granddaughter Olivia, sisters-in-law, Elaine and Lynn and her best friend, Chrissy. Her brothers, Ted, Peter and Robert and her nephew, Andrew, all helped when they could too.

“Margaret was the glue that held us together; she loved nothing more than a family party and would always host a get-together on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. We had some really good times in the final weeks and I got to know a lot more about her.

“We tried to make it fun, ordering in takeaways and watching TV together.

“At one point we thought she was nearing the end but she somehow, she bounced back. She was strong-willed.

“Eventually, on the day she died, we put her favourite song on and gave her permission to go. She closed her eyes and slipped away peacefully surrounded by all those who loved her so much.”

Having witnessed her beloved aunt succumb to this awful disease, Charlotte has been driven to fundraise, to help prevent other families from experiencing the same heartache.

She said: “I want to do my bit to help other brain tumour patients and that’s why I’m doing a ‘double decathlon’ for Brain Tumour Research.

“I started on 20 October and every day, for 20 days, I’m doing a variety of different sports and activities. The length, distance or repetitions are all based around the number 20 so, for example, I’m doing 20 miles on the bike, 20 laps of the pool, 20 press ups and 20 minutes of yoga.”

Charlotte Scott getting sporty for charity

The 20 for 20 Challenge was launched last year in response to disruption caused by COVID-19.

In 2020, it raised more than £151,000 for the charities involved and has since been nominated for two charity awards.

Participants can choose from a list of activities, or create their own and complete them across 20 days. The idea is to take part between September 20 and November 30 and complete the challenges over 20 consecutive days or spread them over a few weeks.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We were so sorry to learn about Charlotte’s loss and our hearts go out to all those who knew and loved Margaret.

"Charlotte’s innovative fundraising as part of the 20 for 20 Challenge is fantastic and will no doubt inspire others to get involved.

“Anyone can take part in 20 for 20 – from completing 20 different exercises over 20 days to trying 20 new recipes, this is something anyone can get involved with to help fund vital research into this devastating disease.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK.

It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.

To donate to Charlotte’s fundraising, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Char-Scott