THERE’S surely no better way to celebrate the life of a shoe-loving friend than with a special After’shoe’n tea.
Clare Holmes and Felicity Gilligan bonded over their love of stylish footwear and even decided to turn their passion for shoes into a fundraising event that raised money for Cancer Research UK.
After two successful After’shoe’n teas had raised £300, plans were underway to go for a third event.
But those plans were interrupted when Felicity discovered the cancer she had been fighting had returned and she became a patient at St Luke’s, where she eventually died.
And it was in her memory that Clare, along with friends Sara Melia, Charlotte Keenan and Helen Blair, made sure that the Felicity Gilligan After’shoe’n tea at Sheffield’s Leopold Hotel was an even bigger success, raising more than £500 for St Luke’s.
“I took the decision to change the name to “The Felicity Gilligan After’shoe’n Tea” because I thought this would be the only right thing to do as Felicity would still be there with us at the event she loved so much,” said Clare.
“It was an emotional day but it was also a very fitting and fabulous day and it was lovely that some of Felicity’s family, including her mum Jacqueline, were there with us.
“The Leopold staff were amazing and did everything they could to help us with anything we needed, including judging a shoe competition!”
Supporters for the event included AngelaBare Vintage, Ski Rossendale, Losehill House Hotel and Spa, Curzon, Cineworld, MollyD Crafts, SUFC and Stannington WI.
“I would also like to give a special mention to Evolution Power Tools for matching what we raised and donating £500 to our cause,” said Clare. “They truly are a fantastic company.”