Members of Newquay Jive have donated £4000 to iSightCornwall in memory of their close friend Sharon Waters. Sharon had been a member of Newquay Jive for over 15 years. She had lived with a brain tumour for many years but did not let it stop her from doing the things she loved. However, in 2013 the tumour began putting pressure on her optic nerve and within six weeks Sharon had lost her sight.

Although Sharon had to give up work she remained active. She continued to dance, even taking part in cabarets without the audience realising she was blind. She also began volunteering at our hospital information desk in Bodmin Hospital where she gave advice and information to others living with sight loss.

Unfortunately the tumour took its toll on Sharon’s health and in early 2016 she was told that there was nothing more that could be done for her. Her friends at Newquay Jive decided they couldn’t give up without a fight and they began raising money to get Sharon an appointment with a specialist in Harley Street, London.

Along with members of Redruth Jive and Slimming World they organised bingos, raffles, coffee mornings, dances and even a sponsored sky dive to raise almost £7,000 for the Help Sharon Fund. Not only did they raise enough money for Sharon to visit the specialist, but they also bought her a motorised wheelchair and set aside funds to adapt a room at Sharon’s home into an accessible bedroom and bathroom. Tragically, Sharon passed away before her home could be adapted so the decision was taken to donate the remaining funds to charities close to Sharon’s heart.

Sharon’s close friend Jill Colton who helped set up the fund said: “The Committee would like to say a big thank you to all who supported Sharon in the very difficult circumstances and send our condolences to her family and friends who are missing a very special person.”

Terri Rosnau-Ward, Chief Executive of iSightCornwall, added: “We would like to thank Sharon’s friends for their generous donation. Sharon was a much-loved volunteer at our hospital desk in Bodmin and is greatly missed. The money donated in her memory will be used to provide home visits to people living with sight loss in Cornwall so that they can receive the support and advice they need to lead independent lives.”

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