A WIDOW with Parkinson’s disease has vowed to make her charity event a roaring success in memory of her husband who died suddenly.
Sandra and John Salisbury were planning a charity auction in aid of Parkinson’s UK with items donated by the likes of Mike Tindall, Katherine Kelly and Dickie Bird.
But John died suddenly in July after a short illness, leaving Sandra, his wife of 25 years, devastated.
She said: “John was my soulmate and the love of my life, I can’t describe how devastating it was to lose him.
“We had just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. We had been on a cruise to Barbados, St Lucia, and Antigua, and it was such a big shock. We have always been together and done everything together.”
Sandra, 52, of St David’s Drive, Ardsley, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s about three-and-a-half years ago. She was forced to give up driving after suffering a blackout which led to a crash, and had to give up her job as a call centre worker.
Parkinson’s UK is a charity close to her heart and she has organised many fundraisers for the local and national branches.
Sandra organised a race night in Ardsley in April, and also took part in the Mayor’s Parade winning the first trophy for Parkinson’s UK Barnsley.
The couple had been in the process of organising the charity auction together when John fell ill and died at home, aged 50.
Sandra said: “I am wanting to raise as much money as possible for Parkinson’s UK as at the moment there is no cure, we have no 50-50 chance of improving. Hopefully with more funding this dreadful disease can be tamed or cured.”
The auction is called ‘Yorkshire at its Best’ and will be held at The Holiday Inn at Dodworth next Friday. Sandra said the idea was borne out of football fans calling former Barnsley FC head coach Paul Heckingbottom ‘one of our own’.
They decided to organise the auction to show that Yorkshire people were generous.
So far, Mike Tindall, who is married to the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips, has donated a signed rugby shirt, Barnsley-born actress Katherine Kelly has donated items from her time on Coronation Street, Dickie Bird has donated two signed paintings, Milly Johnson has donated a signed book, Gareth Gates has donated a signed CD and newsreader Gaynor Barnes has donated a pearl necklace.
Artist Heather Burton has donated a painting and original print, and there is also 30th anniversary programme of Phantom of the Opera and items from Yorkshire Tea and Betty’s Tea Rooms. They will be auctioned on the evening, and other items such as calendars, a book of poems, bracelets and badges will be on sale.
Sandra said: “There are some lovely people out there and we have had some generous donations. This is what John and I were doing and I’ve got to see it through.
“I want to do it for John, he was looking forward to it. He was so proud of what I did and he was always by my side whenever I did anything for Parkinson’s.
“Since losing John, arranging the event has been the last thing on my mind, but I am focusing on making it a success in his honour.”
For tickets contact Sandra on 07963165736.
