In their own Bubble!

Karen Cannon and her daughters will be celebrating the life of someone special by taking part in this year’s Bubble Rush.

On Sunday 6 May, Karen and her daughters Evie, 9, and Beth, 6, will be running through coloured bubbles in memory of her brother Andrew Rainer.

Karen has signed up for the event, the first of its kind in East Lancashire, before registration closes on Monday 30 April at 5pm.

Andrew, 30, from Blackburn, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in August 2016 after suffering from crippling stomach pains.

Andrew was cared for by his long-term girlfriend Debbie and the couple received support from the hospice Clinical Nurse Specialists at home, until he required round-the-clock care.

When Andrew became ill, he and Debbie decided to get married. They had made enquiries with their local vicar but Andrew became too ill to stay at home and was admitted to East Lancashire Hospice.

When the hospice found out that they had been due to marry, staff there made their dream a reality with just two days’ notice.

Karen said: “His condition deteriorated very quickly after he diagnosed but the hospice enabled him to marry his long-term girlfriend and it was such a special day. The staff arranged the whole wedding, which took place in the conservatory at the hospice in October 2016.”

Karen said initially Andrew was reluctant to go into the hospice because he thought it was somewhere to go to die.

“The hospice wasn’t what any of us expected. It was very welcoming and he said it felt like he was staying in a hotel.

“The care from the staff was incredible and the atmosphere was so upbeat and supportive. They provided my brother and our whole family with the best possible care and support in his final days.”

Karen said she has wanted to do something for the hospice since her brother passed away.

When she saw the Bubble Rush advertised, she knew it was something she could do with the girls.

She said: “It will be a way of paying the hospice back, but also doing something to celebrate Andrew’s life as a family. It’s not going to be a sombre event.

“They have seen all the pictures of the event and are very excited. They have been telling all their friends and teachers that they are going to be taking part, and also the reason why. Because of their ‘Uncle Nuggs’ – a name that had stuck since they were little.

Karen, who works as manager of a building society, said her and her girls had set themselves a conservative target of £50. They are already at £120!

To find out more about Bubble Rush click here