Cancer survivor’s charity concert smashes fundraising target

A cancer survivor and her colleagues, who all work together at South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, have raised £2,500 for charity by holding a concert in Barnsley. The original target was £1,000.

Kerry Vernon, from Barnsley, is the Trust’s pension manager and has been cancer-free for 15 years. Together with colleagues Faye Elvin, Kirsty Allen and Victoria Brear from the payroll team she put on the ‘Cancer Free 15’ concert in October in Birdwell.  Abby Eades, who appeared on the X Factor, performed alongside vocalist Beebi Del, singing duo Chaos and a DJ.  The concert was in aid of Weston Park cancer charity and Cavendish Care Sheffield.

Kerry, who has worked for the NHS in Barnsley since leaving school, has survived cancer twice. In 1995 she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and received treatment for 12 months.  The cancer recurred in 2000 and Kerry underwent a further 12 month’s treatment.  She has been cancer-free ever since.

Kerry said: “It was a great night.  We had a fantastic turnout and raised more than we hoped to do.  Thank you to all who attended and gave so generously.  Also a special thank you to my colleagues at Kendray Hospital payroll department who gave up their time to help organise the event.”