25 September 2023 , 09:11
1059
0
Peter Kay left fans deeply moved with a heartfelt gesture during the opening night of his Manchester residency.
The comedy maestro announced that a portion of the ticket sales would be donated to a charity in honour of Laura Nuttall, a cherished daughter and campaigner who tragically lost her battle with cancer. Laura was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme – an incurable form of brain cancer – following a routine eye test in 2018. Despite being given 12 months to live, she courageously embarked on a "bucket list" journey, achieving milestones such as graduating, presenting the BBC weather forecast and raising thousands for brain cancer charities.
Last week, during Peter Kay's show at Manchester's AO Arena, Laura's mum Nicola took to Twitter to express her gratitude towards the comedian for his touching tribute to Laura. He had generously donated to the foundation set up in Laura's name. Sharing a picture of her family, she said: "Such a brilliant night watching Peter Kay in Manchester, we laughed till our faces hurt and my goodness we needed it!"
"Couldn't have been more surprised when he mentioned Laura and her foundation. Thank you Peter you are truly a legend x."
Peter Kay paid a sweet tribute to a fan who died of cancer (Twitter)Among her memorable experiences, Laura enjoyed fishing trips with Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer, met music legend Johnny Marr, and watched the acclaimed play Fleabag performed live on stage. In a remarkable show of support, Peter Kay emerged from retirement in 2021 to raise funds for Laura's treatment, hosting two live Q&A sessions in her honour.
Comedian Peter Kay makes huge decision on future of hit BBC sitcom Car Share
Peter's sold-out Q&A sessions at the 3,500-capacity Manchester Apollo, aptly named Doing it for Laura, raised significant funds for her treatment. This financial aid enabled Laura to travel to Germany for specialist treatment that was not available in the UK. Prior to this, she had undergone extensive cancer treatment, including surgery to remove a tumour, which sadly returned just days later.
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Laura was diagnosed with eight brain tumours, forcing her to put her life and studies on hold. Displaying immense courage, she underwent a craniotomy to remove the largest tumour, followed by an intense regimen of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
A glimmer of hope emerged when Laura's family discovered an innovative new treatment available in Germany. Thanks to generous donations from friends, family, and an online fundraiser, Laura embarked on a journey to Cologne every six weeks for immunotherapy. The journey was fraught with challenges due to coronavirus restrictions, but Laura's resilience shone through as she responded positively to the treatment.
Laura sadly died last year (PA)In an inspiring twist, Laura managed to resume her studies at The University of Manchester amidst her medical ordeal. Despite juggling frequent trips to Germany, additional surgeries, and her role as an ambassador for The Brain Tumour Charity, Laura graduated last summer with a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Her proud mum Nicola, sister Grace, and dad Mark were there to celebrate this remarkable achievement.
Nicola expressed her awe at seeing her daughter graduate, especially after being told that Laura had a life expectancy of around a year and wouldn't be returning to university. She hailed it as a true celebration of Laura's tenacity.
Laura, hailing from Barrowford in Lancashire, continued her noble efforts by raising money and awareness for brain charities. She also promoted research undertaken at The University of Manchester's Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, proving herself a beacon of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
In a tragic turn of events last autumn, Laura's cancer took a rapid turn for the worse. In an effort to ensure she could savour one last Christmas, her family made the heart-wrenching decision to celebrate the festive season in early November.
Earlier this year, in a tweet that tugged at the nation's heartstrings, her mother Nicola announced Laura's passing, describing her as remaining "fierce and tenacious to the end". She wrote: "I'm heartbroken to share the news that we lost our beautiful Laura in the early hours of this morning."
"She was fierce and tenacious to the end and it was truly the honour of my life to be her mum. We are devastated at the thought of life without our girl, she was a force of nature."
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
Melanie Sykes explains how she dealt with her later-life health diagnosis