Community unites to deal blow against cancer in memory of cabbie Stephen

Since then she has lost a close friend to the illness as well.

Now she has dealt the illness a blow by bringing together her community to take action against the illness with a charity fundraising day at the cafe she runs in Edlington.

She staged a charity fun day at JD’s Catering, on Violent Avenue, with dozens of residents from the local community turning out to support her.

This week’s event was to raise money for cancer charities. She plans to have more events of a similar nature in the future at her shop.

Jane, aged 47, along with co-owner Darren Naylor, aged 46, only opened their cafe three months ago, but she was keen to do something in memory of Stephen as soon as possible.

She said: “We’ve done face painting, a raffle, and a free buffet. The community put in prizes for the raffle, and we’ve been selling buns for charity too.

“I lost Stephen two years ago, and have also lost a lot of other friends and relatives to cancer.

“Stephen had lung cancer, and it spread to his brain. I don’t feel that there is enough research done into the illness.

“He was a taxi driver here in Edlington and a real pillar of the community. He always made people laugh.”

“But he did have a lot of support, especially from the McMillan nurses. He had 24 hour care the the last 16 weeks, He’d be really pleased to see what we’re doing today,” she said.

Stephen was only 53 when he died.

Stephen and Jane’s 19-year-old daughter, Chloe Holland, also help organise the event at the shop.

“We’re all working together to help each other,” she said. “It means a lot to do something in memory of my dad.”