Moray cancer survivor to host Elgin Town event in aid of Friends of The Oaks and The Spey Unit at Dr Gray’s Hospital
A woman has fought back from what was originally a frightening cancer diagnosis and will host a packed event this evening.
Nicky McKerron, who’s Elgin born and bred, has bounced back after being told last September that she had stomach cancer.
The 51-year-old was obviously devastated by the news, as were her large family – Nicky has six siblings all living in Elgin, plus lots of nieces and nephews.
Doctors originally stated the cancer was not curable. However, Nicky is someone who, under normal circumstances, goes to the gym twice a day.
Owing to the fact she was in such good physical shape, the medical experts then stated a fortnight later that they’d be willing to perform an operation.
They warned Nicky that its impact would be life-changing. To slow the spread of the cancer it would be necessary to remove her whole stomach, spleen and 24 of her lymph nodes
Bravely, she agreed to go ahead with this.
Taking up the story Audrey Graham, Nicky’s older sister, said: “We lost our dad at the end of October.
“He had dementia and Nicky had cared for him for six years, moving in with him and mum during lockdown.
“Nicky went in for her operation just days after the funeral. It was an eight-and-a-half hour procedure at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with four surgeons present.
“A lengthy recovery followed, then she embarked on intense chemotherapy at The Spey Unit in Elgin.
“It was all extremely hard on her, but Nicky is such a positive and strong person. At times she was in so much pain she could barely talk or move, but she kept smiling. She has the biggest smile.”
Happily, Nicky’s last MRI scan showed everything has gone so well since the operation and chemo that no cancer can now be detected with the naked eye.
Audrey said: “They can never make guarantees, but they have changed the prognoses from being just palliative to a point where the treatment is intended to cure her.”
Nicky’s hair is now growing back and she’s returned to Little the Jewellers on Elgin High Street, where she has worked for the past 20 years.
Added to that, in June she helped raise £10,500 for Cancer Research by walking three kilometres during the Race For Life event in Inverness.
Nicky’s Crew, as her team of family members called themselves, won the award for the most money raised.
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All of which brings us to this evening and the fundraiser taking place at Elgin Town Hall.
When the 300 tickets went on sale a few weeks back they sold out in just three hours.
Audrey said: “Various local businesses have supported the event, supplying free entertainment, security, food, decor and we’ve had an abundance of fantastic raffle prizes.
“Nicky has so many friends and they’ve been so supportive – really brilliant. We’re all so proud of her.”
As a mark of just how much they think of Nicky, Littles has donated a £1000 gift voucher as one of the many raffle prizes that are on offer.
All the proceeds from this evening’s event will go to Friends of The Oaks and The Spey Unit at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
Raffle tickets can still be bought by contacting Audrey at audelgin@hotmail.co.uk
