Charity ball set to honour well known Burnley nurse who was a devoted mum and grandmother

The ball takes place next Friday (March 6th) and has been organised by Vickie Wilson in memory of her mum, Karen Archer who died last year at the age of 61 after a five year battle against cancer.

Karen herself had wanted to hold the event before her death so Vickie decided to honour her mum's last wish and organise it.

All the proceeds will be donated to Pendleside Hospice and the ball is for everyone who has lost a loved one.

Although billed as a red carpet event in the James Hargeaves suite at Burnley Football Club there is no formal dress code and Vickie wants people to go along wearing whatever they feel most comfortable in.

Vickie said: "The response so far has been amazing, we are hoping it wll be a fantastic night."

Vocalist Gavin Young will entertain guests and there will also be a disco, raffle and auction.

And Vickie has created a special memory board for people to post photographs of their family members and friends who they have lost.

She said: "This night is not just about my mum, it is about all the families who have lost someone. We want to recognise them and what they have gone through and how lives are changed forever."

To boost the funds Vickie and her two friends, Padiham hairdresser and beauty therapist Kelly Garnett and Liam Murray of Preston, will be attempting a sky dive at the end of March.

During her career Karen worked as a children's nurse at Burnley General Hospital before she became a paediatric sister specialising in diabetes in children at Nuffield Private Hospital in Leeds. Karen was lauded for her dedication to her role and still features on posters promoting the hospital.

One of Karen's ideas was to create her own series of stories based around the iconic Mr Men series and she was given permission to use the original characters by the franchise that owns the books written by Roger Hargreaves.

Karen, who was a student at the former St Hilda's RC High School in Burnley, still continued to work even after her cancer diagnosis and subsequent rounds of chemotherapy. She remained cheerful, positive and upbeat and was given a new lease of life when her grandson Henry was born on Christmas Day in 2014.

Karen, who received therapy at Pendleside Hospice, threw a massive party at Burnley Football Club to mark her 60th birthday in 2018 and just days before she died she attended a fireworks display with her family, including her son, Wayne Lord, at Greenbrook Church in Burnley.

Vickie said: "In the five years we had together after her diagnosis we did so much and ticked a lot off her bucket list including going to Disneyland and Jamaica.

"Nothing was left unsaid between us and I still feel like she is guiding me now in spirit."

Tickets for the ball are £25 a head and anyone who would like to buy them is asked to contact Vickie by email on [email protected]