Clitheroe's Ribblesdale High School staff and pupils pull out all stops to raise over £7,000 for cherished teacher battling cancer
A Clitheroe school has pulled out all the stops to raise thousands of pounds for a cherished teacher who is facing ‘the fight of her life.’
Liselore Woltering is battling stage three colon cancer. Friends and supporters have set up a gofundme page with a £40,000 target to help pay for cutting edge treatment in Germany, which has so far raised just over £27,000. The treatment is needed as, despite undergoing a successful bowel resection and starting chemotherapy treatment, just seven rounds in it was discovered the cancer had aggressively spread to the 44-year-old’s liver.
This was devastating news for Liselore, who has a two year old daughter, Lucy, and her family as she lost her mum to cancer on Christmas Day, and her dad to the same cruel disease while she was still at university. Surgery has been confirmed for August 12th but Liselore, who teaches at Ribblesdale High School in Clitheroe, also wants to pursue cutting edge treatment in Germany to help fight this disease that seems to resist chemo.
Her colleague and Ribblesdale Assistant Headteacher Hannah Murphy said: “When one of our own is facing the fight of their life, the Ribblesdale community does what it has always done best: it comes together. Liselore Woltering is far more than a teacher and colleague.
"She is a gifted, classically trained actor, an inspiring teacher, and a cherished friend whose warmth, humour and generosity of spirit have shaped countless lives.
"When Liselore was diagnosed with aggressive colon cancer the news sent shockwaves through the school. But what followed was something extraordinary. Heartbreak quickly turned into determination. Staff, pupils, parents and the wider community asked one simple question: What can we do to help? From that moment on, Ribblesdale rallied in support.”
Colleagues have taken part in Race for Life events, and members of the SEND team even stepped far outside their comfort zones to complete a skydive for Cancer Research. Fundraising events, including non‑uniform days and, most recently, a major school raffle organised by art teacher Miss Ainscow and art subject lead Mrs Middleton. The raffle was generously supported by local businesses, reflecting the wider community’s generosity. Together, these two events alone raised nearly £6,000.
Headteacher Mrs Horrocks took part in the gruelling 18‑mile Rossendale Round the Hills walk last September and Mrs Murphy, along with her husband and colleague Mr Ben Murphy, Year 11 lead, entered the ‘Rumble in the Jumble’ running event in Hull last October. They each ran a full marathon and raised over £900.
Mrs Murphy described it as the ‘hardest thing I’ve ever done’ adding: “I knew I wanted to do something meaningful for Liselore, something that felt properly big. I’ve always thought of marathons as something other people do — very fit, heroic people — definitely not people like me.”
On the day Mr Murphy completed the marathon in around five hours and forty minutes, while Mrs Murphy crossed the finish line at six hours.
She added: “When I crossed the finish line I just burst into tears, it was really overwhelming and emotional because of Lise. It was tough but completely worth it - every step was for Liselore to get her closer to her goal.
“ Liselore has shown remarkable courage and grace, continuing to connect with people through her kindness, wit and passion. She has faced worry, waiting and relentless uncertainty with a strength that humbles everyone around her. Our mission at Ribblesdale School has been simple: to make sure Miss Woltering knows she is not alone.
“This is what true community looks like. Standing shoulder to shoulder when it matters.”