Family and friends are rallying in support of a former Market Drayton music teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Around 100 people are walking up Mount Snowdon later this month to support Vikki Purslow who has cancer in the liver, neck, chest and digestive system.
Vikki, 27, taught at Musicland when it was based in Shrewsbury Road and ran a playgroup in Market Drayton before moving to Coedpoeth, near Wrexham, three years ago.
She married her husband Matthew in May and has two daughters, Amelie, five and Cleo who is eight months old.
Vikki said: “I was diagnosed with cancer at the end of April and married my wonderful husband Matthew on May 5. Exactly a week later we were given the news that the cancer was terminal and the aim of any treatment I receive now is to prolong the time I have left.
“I’m not scared of dying – I just want to make the most of what’s left with my beautiful daughters and my wonderful husband.”
Vikki, who has chemotherapy every fortnight, retains strong memories of living in Market Drayton.
She said: “I started working at Musicland when I was 15, doing a few hours every Saturday, teaching a few pupils and taking the younger children’s orchestra.
“I absolutely loved working there and I miss all of my pupils so much.
“I got quite involved in the childcare community as well and worked as a childminder after the birth of Amelie in 2004.
“I loved working in childcare and I set up a childminding playgroup in the Scout Hut on Shrewsbury Road so that local childminders had the opportunity to meet up every week and the children could play.”
The walk on July 31 will raise money for Wrexham’s Nightingale House Hospice where Vikki will spend the last few weeks of her life and the Willow Foundation which paid for Vikki and her family to see a London West End musical.
Katy Harrison from Market Drayton, who is doing the walk with her husband Matthew, said: “I’ve known Vikki for just over five years and she’s my son Oliver’s godmother.
“I was absolutely devastated and stunned when she told me about her condition.
“She’s being incredibly brave, considering what she’s facing, and the fact she’s got two young girls is the hardest part for all of us to contemplate.
“But we’re focusing on the positives and what we can do while she’s here.”
To support the cause, visit the website at www.justgiving.com/VPSnowdon
By Winston Brown
