Barmaid Tracy Leese is leading a team of footballers on a 10-mile jog from Newcastle to Stone in a tribute to Cherryl Poppit, the former landlady of the Royal Exchange who lost her battle with cancer in October.
Cherryl passed away just weeks after being diagnosed with inoperable cancer.
Now Tracy and fellow players from Holditch Ladies FC, Chesterton, have decided to complete the run on Sunday 11th December to raise funds for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice. The hospice in Blurton cared for Cherryl during her last few weeks.
Tracy said: “Cherryl was well loved and popular with all at the Royal Exchange. She received fantastic, sensitive, care from the Douglas Macmillan Hospice and we are appealing to local people, and anyone, who sees us on the run, to show their support for such a good cause.”
The Royal Exchange is run by Titanic Brewery. Director Dave Bott said: “Cherryl was extremely popular both at the brewery and in Stone where she really did know everyone. It’s great that the girls from Holditch Ladies FC have decided to put on this sponsored event and we will be lending them support and wishing them well on the day.”
Cherryl’s enthusiasm and passion had turned the Royal Exchange into a real hub of the community. So many community groups used the pub as a meeting place and Cherryl really did go out of her way to welcome them.
In October, local people posted their tributes on A Little Bit of Stone’s Facebook page.
Liz Gumbley from the Stone’s multiple sclerosis charity SAMS said: “Cheryl was a great person, always so cheery and always so willing to do so much for the local community. On behalf of SAMS, I’d like to thank her for her help and support.”
James Battrick wrote: “Cheryl was one of the nicest people anyone could wish to meet. She was one of those people who made Stone the great place it is to live. The Exchange, that she ran with her brilliant flair, will not be the same.”
Donations and messages of support can be left at www.justgiving.com/RunForCherryl
For more information on the work of the Douglas Macmillan Hospice log on to www.dmhospice.org.uk
