Friends and family pay tribute to “inspirational” Candice Colley after she loses fight against leukaemia

Jan 5 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

TRIBUTES have been paid to a young woman whose brave fight against leukaemia inspired thousands to join the bone marrow register.

Candice Colley, from Thingwall, organised an awareness day from her hospital bed after being diagnosed with the disease for the second time.

Doctors told the former Pensby High School pupil she urgently needed a bone marrow transplant.

The event at West Kirby Concourse last February attracted 400 potential donors and more than 7,000 people joined a Facebook page she set up.

The 23-year-old received a transplant in the summer, which was successful.

But tragically she caught pneumonia before Christmas and passed away in hospital on December 27, surrounded by loved ones.

Her family and friends told the News: “We hope heaven is as fantastic as she deserves it to be, we love her very, very much and will miss her every day.

“We want to thank all the haematology staff who cared for Candice at Arrowe Park and the Royal, and the staff in the ITU department at the Royal.”

Friends and supporters from all over the world have paid tribute to her on Candice's Wirral Leukaemia Awareness Day group on Facebook.

Jo Elliot wrote: “I know the awareness you created will continue to help people for many more years.”