Lancashire Limo's help terminally ill cancer victims dream come true

Cancer victim's Blackpool wish granted

A TERMINALLY-ILL cancer patient is to get a sneak preview of the world-famous Blackpool illuminations six months before they are due to be switched on.
The Mail recently revealed how lung cancer victim Jean Steel, 42, was told just before Christmas she would not survive the disease and to 'enjoy every day'.Medics told the Hartlepool mum-of-five she wouldn't be strong enough to survive a transplant and nothing more could be done for her. After getting over the initial shock, the brave mum set herself a target of a dream holiday to Blackpool. And the-end-of-February trip is to become a reality thanks to kind-hearted donations from businesses and individuals both in Hartlepool and Lancashire.Now tourist bosses in Blackpool have promised to light up Jean's trip to the town by turning on the world famous illuminations - sevenmonths before the official switch-on. Jean will be making the trip with husband Raymond, 51, and children Maria, 13, Raymond, 12, Shauna-Leigh, 11, Tia-Leioni, eight, and six-year-old Kevin.Hartlepool firm, Streamline Taxis, has been appealing for donations to make Jean's trip that extra bit special.Initially £1,000 was needed but more than £2,000 has already been donated. Not only will Jean experience a five star weekend she will also be treated to the Blackpool illuminations, which aren't normally switched on until September, after council chiefs agreed to the special show.Michael Wilcock, head of illumi nations at Blackpool Council, said: "We have been informed of Mrs Steel's visit to the town and will be happy to brighten her stay by taking the unusual step of switching on the illuminations for the evening."Jean's twin sister, June, 42, her husband Edward, 50, and their three children, Christine, 18, Iris, 16, and 14-year-old Kristen, will also be making the trip. Jean, from the Milbank Road area of town, said: "I'm really pleased and over the moon with all the donations and I can't thank people enough. Everyone at Streamline has been brilliant and they have done more than enough for me. The news about the illuminations is fantastic because that's all I wanted to do as I've never been to Blackpool before. When they told me they were putting the lights on I nearly cried, I couldn't believe it."On the morning of the trip, Mayor of Hartlepool Stuart Drummond will be handing over the money and waving the family off. They will be travelling in a 16-seater mini-bus and on arrival in Blackpool they will be transported around in style thanks to www.blackpoollimohire.co.uk and a limo from www.lancashirelimos.co.uk 4x4 pink limo .Donna's Dream House is a Blackpool based charity that provides sponsored holidays for children with life-threatening illnesses and t
heir families.Is has agreed to pay for all the things the family want to do including visiting the tower, sealife centre, live shows and the zoo.Stephen Picton, a taxi driver with Streamline Taxis, in Tower Street, Hartlepool, has been organising the fundraising drive with his boss, Rob Pattison.Stephen, 35, of Bede Grove, said: "Myself and Rob think it is phenomenal and all the donations we have received have been absolutely fantastic. We never thought we would raise this much this quickly. We even had a £300 donation from an 86-year-old pensioner who wanted to remain anonymous. Originally we wanted to raise £1,000 but we already have £2,000 and if she gets a bit of money left over then she can use it to take the kids on day trips when they get back." www.blackpoollimousinehire.co.uk