Fundraising page set up in memory of Nottingham’s Maid Marian – Nottingham Post

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A fundraising page set up in memory of Nottingham's official Maid Marian will support a range of cancer and end of life charities.

Dr Sally Pollard died on Friday, June 16, aged just 39 after losing her battle with breast cancer.

Sally was a lecturer and researcher in human molecular genetics at The University of Nottingham.

She was diagnosed with the disease in July 2015 after she started noticing changes in her breasts. She visited her local GP and specialists confirmed the devastating news that it had spread to her bones and liver.

Sally and her husband Tim Pollard - the city's official Robin Hood - received help from a number of charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support, during her fight against the disease.

As a 'thank you' for that support, Tim set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money for Macmillian Cancer Support, the Red Cross, Nottingham City Hospital's Hayward House Specialist Palliative Care Unit, Nottingham and Treetops Hospices and Maggie's Nottingham on Friday (June 30).

Tim asked loved ones to donate to the Sally Pollard's Thank You Fund instead of having flowers at Sally's funeral, and by Sunday (July 2) afternoon 985 had already been raised.

The 53-year-old, who lives in Beeston, is overwhelmed by the "brilliant" support.

He said: "The help that Sal got was second to none. It was lovely care from all of the organisations involved.

"She really wanted to stay at home if possible and thankfully, with the help of the Red Cross and both of the Nottingham hospices - especially our Macmillan nurse, who was just brilliant - we managed.

"When the time came, she was at home surrounded by everybody that loved her and that meant everything to her - that's a simple thing but it's an important thing. If we can raise some money to help someone have a bit of extra care and help from the people that helped us that's brilliant."

Sally's funeral will be held in private but Tim will be celebrating her life with family and friends at the Nottingham Riverside Festival, which was "always Sal's favourite".

The three-day festival, held on Victoria Embankment, starts on Friday, August 4, which would have been Sally's 40th birthday.

Tim said: "This year would have been her 40th birthday. We're turning Riverside into 'Sal Fest' so that anybody who knows or loves Sal can come down and make it a big celebration."

Last month, Tim told The Post that a tree will be planted over Sally's final resting place.

It will be called 'Mummy's Tree' and will be a place that Tim and the couple's three-year-old daughter Scarlett can visit regularly.

You can find the Sally Pollard's Thank You Fund page here.

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Fundraising page set up in memory of Nottingham's Maid Marian - Nottingham Post