Brave foster mum named woman of the year

Jun 30 2007 by Laura Davis, Liverpool Daily Post

• See pictures from the awards - online from Monday here at www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk

A SELFLESS mother who brought light to so many people was remembered with a posthumous award yesterday.

Jackie Culshaw, a mum-of-nine and a foster parent, nursed two of her children through their battles with cystic fibrosis despite suffering from the disease herself.

When she died on Valentine’s Day earlier this year, it left a big hole in the lives of her husband and surviving seven children, but they were thrilled to be able to accept the accolade on her behalf at the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards.

“I would just like to thank everybody here for this award. Jackie was very special to me. a beautiful wife and a wonderful mother to these beautiful children here,” said her husband, Tony, on accepting the award from Daily Post deputy editor Alison Gow at the lunchtime ceremony.

“We realised how special Jackie was to us but we didn’t realise how special she was to other people until it was too late.”

Mrs Culshaw, 58, was diagnosed 12 years ago when she caught the cepacia infection from daughter Sammy and son Stuart, who died in 2003, aged 27 and 22. More than 1,000 family and friends filled St Edmund’s Church, Waterloo, for her funeral.

Speaking after the ceremony, Jackie’s 29-year-old daughter, Emma, spoke of her happiness at seeing her mother honoured in this way.

She said: “When I found out about this I was shopping and I burst out crying because I was happy that she was being remembered. My mum never ever realised what impact she had on people. We knew she was great but this (award) just epitomises what she was and it’s great that she is getting this accolade.”

Teenage brother Alex, 19, added: “Our mum was gorgeous.”

Also honoured for her dedication to others was Marcia Hughes, of Radio Merseyside Charitable Trust, who was chosen by Daily Post readers to receive the prestigious title Merseyside Woman of the Year 2007.

Since she joined the Trust as fundraiser eight years ago, there has been a dramatic increase in its income, benefiting hundreds of organisations in the region, large and small, who would not normally have access to larger national trusts.

Those who have received grants include the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, who were able to pay for specialist breathing equipment, the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust and Lasers for Life.

Awards compere and Radio Merseyside presenter Linda McDermott described Marcia as a “pocket rocket”, while Marcia herself said she was “absolutely overwhelmed, delighted and honoured,” to have won.

Said Marcia: “Liverpool is my hometown and in its birthday year what a wonderful accolade to receive. This award is very unexpected but it has really raised the awareness of the charitable trust.”

Sponsored by Merseyrail in conjunction with the Daily Post, the fifth annual Merseyside Women of the Year Awards marked the accomplishments of women in nine categories – Entrepreneur, Art and Culture, Sport and Leisure, Entertainment, Learning, Women’s Group, Women Achieving, Public Affairs and Community Matters.

The judges were Lesley Cusick, Merseyrail safety director; Jean Gadsby, of Gadsby Accountants; Emma Johnson, Daily Post features editor; Ann McCracken, community manager at O2 UK; Lyn Staunton, of Power Promotions; Dorothy Kuya, executive member of Granby Residents Association and a National Museums Liverpool trustee; Geraldine McEntegart, founder of McEntegart Marketing; Lesley Martin-Wright, marketing and business development manager at JST Lawyers; Sandra St Rose, director of operations at Liverpool Diversity Centre; Esther McVey, founder of Winning Women.

The ceremony was held at the Crowne Plaza hotel, at Princes Dock, following a lunch for 350 people.

The timing of next year’s awards, again sponsored by Merseyrail, will be particularly poignant as it will take place just before 10,000 people are due to take part in a fundraising event for the Linda McCartney Centre.

They will come together at Liverpool Cricket Club to take the shape of a giant woman in a stunt that is similar to Australia’s Field of Women, held by that country’s Breast Cancer Network.

The Linda McCartney Centre, at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, provides treatment for cancer and other illnesses and her fashion designer daughter Stella McCartney has agreed to be a figurehead for the fundraiser. Last year’s Merseyside Woman of the Year, Margaret Shields, is herself a fundraiser for the centre.

Full list of winners > > >