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| Actress Shirley Hellyar who fundraised for own funeral dies aged 40 | Actress Shirley Hellyar who fundraised for own funeral dies aged 40 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A terminally ill woman who raised nearly £7,000 for her own funeral after being given weeks to live has died. | A terminally ill woman who raised nearly £7,000 for her own funeral after being given weeks to live has died. |
| Shirley Hellyar, 40, from Glasgow, thought she had beaten cancer and travelled to Newcastle to celebrate. | Shirley Hellyar, 40, from Glasgow, thought she had beaten cancer and travelled to Newcastle to celebrate. |
| She suffered chest pains while visiting friends in October and was told she had less than five weeks to live. | She suffered chest pains while visiting friends in October and was told she had less than five weeks to live. |
| The actress said her family had already lost her brother when he was 16 and added "no parents should have to have funerals for all their children". | The actress said her family had already lost her brother when he was 16 and added "no parents should have to have funerals for all their children". |
| She was recently cast as a villager in a Netflix production called Outlaw King, starring Hollywood actor Chris Pine, and had said she had hoped to see it broadcast. | She was recently cast as a villager in a Netflix production called Outlaw King, starring Hollywood actor Chris Pine, and had said she had hoped to see it broadcast. |
| 'Just broke my heart' | |
| However, she died on Wednesday - two days before its general release. | However, she died on Wednesday - two days before its general release. |
| A statement on her fundraising page said Miss Hellyar "unfortunately passed away in her sleep" at St Oswald's Hospice in Gosforth, Newcastle, surrounded by family and friends. | A statement on her fundraising page said Miss Hellyar "unfortunately passed away in her sleep" at St Oswald's Hospice in Gosforth, Newcastle, surrounded by family and friends. |
| "Shirley was very grateful for everyone's help and donations which made her last few weeks so much better," the statement said. | "Shirley was very grateful for everyone's help and donations which made her last few weeks so much better," the statement said. |
| "She said that all the help she had received restored her faith in human kindness. Thank you all once again." | "She said that all the help she had received restored her faith in human kindness. Thank you all once again." |
| Miss Hellyar was first diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma after developing a tumour on her lung in 2017. | Miss Hellyar was first diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma after developing a tumour on her lung in 2017. |
| By September this year, she said the tumour had shrunk and she was well enough to travel to Newcastle where she had lived for years and used to work as a sexual health worker. | By September this year, she said the tumour had shrunk and she was well enough to travel to Newcastle where she had lived for years and used to work as a sexual health worker. |
| Just before her death Miss Hellyar said: "My parents have already had to lose a child - they lost my brother, so they've had this sad story before. | Just before her death Miss Hellyar said: "My parents have already had to lose a child - they lost my brother, so they've had this sad story before. |
| "The idea that again they'd been left in this situation again just broke my heart. Nobody should be planning their own funeral and organising stuff but if I can take the pressure off and make it more bearable for my parents, I'll do that." | "The idea that again they'd been left in this situation again just broke my heart. Nobody should be planning their own funeral and organising stuff but if I can take the pressure off and make it more bearable for my parents, I'll do that." |
| More than 300 people donated £6,956 to help her parents Elizabeth and Gordon pay for her funeral and their travel costs from Scotland. | More than 300 people donated £6,956 to help her parents Elizabeth and Gordon pay for her funeral and their travel costs from Scotland. |
| Many donors left messages of support, while some offered to provide services at the funeral or places for her family to stay in Newcastle. | Many donors left messages of support, while some offered to provide services at the funeral or places for her family to stay in Newcastle. |
| One donor, Martin Robson, said he did not know Miss Hellyar but posted: "I heard your story on Radio Newcastle and was so shocked at your story and how sad it was for you. | One donor, Martin Robson, said he did not know Miss Hellyar but posted: "I heard your story on Radio Newcastle and was so shocked at your story and how sad it was for you. |
| "I sat there numb and in tears whilst hearing you talk of your cancer, well done for being so brave and I hope the money you raised will give you the beautiful, loving funeral you deserve." | "I sat there numb and in tears whilst hearing you talk of your cancer, well done for being so brave and I hope the money you raised will give you the beautiful, loving funeral you deserve." |
| Another donor Sharon Rae wrote: "A brave courageous lady. So very sorry to hear of her passing." | Another donor Sharon Rae wrote: "A brave courageous lady. So very sorry to hear of her passing." |