Melksham sisters-in-law Kayleigh Gullis and Mikayla Ayliffe, have reached an ‘emotional’ end to fundraising for Cancer Research UK after they exceeded their £30,000 target, in memory of Mikayla’s mother Lyn Gullis, who died of cancer in 2019.
The sisters-in-law joined forces to hold annual fundraising events in the town including a Valentine’s Day Ball, Winter Wonderland, a Halloween Ball, Cider Festival and most recently, a Vegas Night at Spencer’s Sports and Social Club, where they raised £4,430, taking their total to £31,461.03.
Kayleigh said, “We are so proud that we have smashed our target. We set out to fundraise £30,000 for Cancer Research UK when Lyn was diagnosed with cancer in 2018. She always wanted to go to a ball, so we wanted to make sure that she had the chance to go to one by holding a fundraising Valentine’s Day Ball before she died.”
Staggering £10,000
That first event raised a staggering £10,000 and the pair were contacted by a Cancer Research UK area manager, asking them if they could continue fundraising. This journey led them to visit a cancer research lab in Southampton to see where funds raised are spent.
Kayleigh said, “It was amazing to go to the lab and actually see some of the end products of what the money can fund. Our fundraised money of £30k could be used to pay for another nurse or researcher.”
Memories
Sharing memories from the events over the years that would usually involve a raffle, tombola, photographs, a bar, refreshments and at the most recent Vegas Night, casino games, Kayleigh said, “Winter Wonderland was a great event. We decked everything out in white to make it look all wintery and hired some marquees from Melksham Marquees. It looked really great and everybody loved it. We raised £3,000 at that event. For the cider fest we hired a tractor for the day and the Halloween Ball was also really fun – we raised a further £5,000 there.”
Local businesses have always been supportive too. Kayleigh said, “Over the years local businesses have donated prizes for the raffle. One year, Bath Rugby donated tickets for one of their games.”
Now reaching the target the pair have made the decision to end the annual fundraising events. Kayleigh said, “It’s been great, but the events are a lot of work to organise. We’ve both got young children and it’s a lot of work to sell tickets and get people to the events, particularly in the cost-of-living crisis. In our final event, we had about 120 people on the night and it was very emotional when we reached the target!”
Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Wiltshire, Elisa Mitchell said, “Kayleigh and Mikayla have made a huge contribution to Cancer Research UK’s work over the past four years through various themed events and we are incredibly grateful for the part they have played in the fight against cancer.
“Our determination to beat the disease hasn’t faltered and we are more focussed than ever on our ambition of seeing three in four people survive their cancer by 2034. However, our progress relies on the incredible dedication and commitment of volunteers and supporters like the Melksham ladies, without whom we would not be able to fund our life-saving work. One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime. All of us can support the research that will beat it.”
