Village campaign which hit national headlines is nominated for accolade
A village-led campaign that raised £100,000 for a mother battling cancer has been nominated for a prestigious award, a week after she tragically died of the disease.
The Mend Our Mum fundraiser – launched last year when mother-of-two Berni Cliffe, 53, from Audlem near Market Drayton, was diagnosed with cancer – has been nominated for the South Cheshire Team of the Year.
The campaign began when the Cliffe family was told treatment for the stage four gall bladder cancer was not available on the NHS. Daughters Terri and Hannah decided to research other treatments and began a campaign to raise the £100,000 for treatment in America.
The campaign saw people from the village create a version of Amazing Grace, which hit national headlines and appeared on a number of daytime news programmes. The music video was shown on ITV news, Good Morning Britain and Granada Reports, as well as BBC news broadcasts.
They set up a website, launched fundraising activities and were helped by people from around the area who took on sponsored challenges.
The family hit their target in March and Mrs Cliffe travelled to Houston, Texas, with her daughters and husband Colin where she underwent surgery.
But sadly Mrs Cliffe died last week having spent time in St Luke's Hospice in Winsford, Cheshire, on her return home.
The inspirational campaign has been nominated for the South Cheshire Team of the Year category in the Your Champion 2015 awards supported by Scottish Power.
In a statement from the Mend Our Mum campaign, it said: "If our love could've kept her alive, she would have lived forever.
"Thank you so much to everyone who has sent messages over the last two days."
Hundreds have paid tribute to Mrs Cliffe on Facebook and have sent condolences to the family.
Terri added they wanted to thank the hospice for the fantastic care she received.
On Thursday evening, just days after Mrs Cliffe died, Terri and Hannah attended the O2 Media Awards. Their mum had asked them to attend on her behalf and they presented an award on the night.
Last month, the village was presented with the annual Community Spirit award by Cheshire Community Action for its efforts to join together for the cause.
The team will find out this week if they have won the team of the year award.
