Twin sisters from Middlesbrough raise over £50,000 for Macmillan

After Becky Mackay and Laura Clark from Eston and Normanby in Middlesbrough lost their grandad to Mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer and lost their grandma last year to acute myeloid leukaemia.

The twins’ much-loved grandad Minoru Kobayashi, whose father was Japanese, was affectionately known as ‘Dave’.

He was a highly skilled bench joiner who, during retirement, was known for crafting the wooden pieces on rifles called gun stocks.

Dave and Joan Kobayashi (Image: Macmillan Cancer Support)

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Unfortunately, he developed dementia for a number of years which meant that it wasn’t until he experienced an irritating cough in July 2016, as the first obvious symptom the family could identify, that he was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and they lost him the same year.

Laura Clark, 39, who works as a store manager at Screwfix, said: “Our grandparents gave us the best advice and guidance in life - we were truly devastated to lose them both to cancer. They were very involved in bringing us up and supporting my mam who was a single parent. In their later life we were very close and we were always going out on trips and days out together.

“We were really grateful for the support shown by Macmillan, with grandad’s palliative care team, the Macmillan nurse who helped grandad, and the Macmillan welfare advisor who helped us sort out his affairs leading up to and following his passing. Everything was in joint names and we also needed legal advice for the type of cancer he had that is known to be caused by asbestos and therefore often work related.”

Soon after they lost their grandad, their gran Joan Kobayashi experienced intense fatigue and drowsiness and was discovered to have a low blood count.

Becky on the ward at James Cook Hospital (Image: Macmillan Cancer Support)

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Taking a bone marrow biopsy, she was diagnosed with a type of myeloid leukaemia.

Joan was then prescribed daily chemotherapy tablets which stabilised her condition for almost six years before it became acute and she sadly succumbed in January 2022 having just turned 85.

“We are a close family and losing our grandad, then my gran being diagnosed shortly afterward and living with cancer treatment for so long, to then lose her life has been very hard. Macmillan played a key role in not just supporting my grandparents but all of us affected, our family and friends.

“That’s why we were so motivated to fundraise for them so other people can benefit from their help. We were concerned that the support we received is not necessarily available to everyone in our position.”

Becky, Laura, and family (Image: Macmillan Cancer Support)

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Over the last six years the twins and their family and friends have been committed to raising money for Macmillan, including; organising Coffee Mornings, Bonus Balls, prize draws, raffles and fundraising events and charity nights at the Eston and Normandy Social Club.

“We have learned as we go; finding out what works best and improving things for everyone who supports us. After grandad died we had a small Macmillan Coffee Morning and raised £395. It felt good but we also felt we could do better so Father's Days, Mother's Days other special occasions became fundraisers and it just snowballed from there.

“This year is our 40th birthday so we’ll be looking to put on a fundraiser for that.”

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Jane Curry Fundraising Manager for Macmillan said: “To lose both grandparents in this way is a terrible experience to go through and our hearts go out to Becky, Laura and their family and friends.

“We are absolutely overwhelmed that they have chosen to throw themselves into raising so much for our charity; it takes absolute dedication and commitment to do what they have done and to do this whilst caring for loved ones is an unbelievable achievement.

“So many people affected by cancer have benefitted as a result of their hard work and it is a fitting tribute to the memory of Dave and Joan Kobayashi.”

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