Forever in our hearts

MUCH-LOVED mum . . . Maria Hurst (right) pictured with her mum Bernadette Hurst and daughter Olivia

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THE community of Failsworth rallied around a grieving family and raised more than £10,000 to support them after a much-loved mum's life was cut short at the age of just 36 after a year-long battle with cancer.

Maria Hurst died earlier this year after being diagnosed with bowel cancer, leaving her 13-year-old daughter Olivia without a mother.

After hearing that Maria did not have life insurance, the community rallied around her family in a heart-warming fundraising effort spearheaded by her devoted brother David.

David (22) said: "She was an amazing sister and we all miss her every day. She was like a second mum to me, always there looking out for me.

"When she died I wanted to make sure she had the funeral she deserved and that her daughter, my niece, would be taken care of."

David set up a crowdfunding campaign and hoped to raise £500 to help towards funeral costs.

However, when the news of Maria's death spread throughout the community, the target was reached almost instantly as hundreds of people donated to the cause.

Maria worked in several pubs around Failsworth over the years, most recently at The Church Inn at Failsworth Pole, and was well known in the local area.

David added: "She was such a bubbly person, which is what you need when you work behind the bar, so everyone in Failsworth knew her.

"Everyone was so generous with their donations, it was really overwhelming as we never expected to raise so much money."

He added that the total raised was £10,500 and over 400 people attended Maria's funeral, showing just how well liked she was in the area.

"I knew she was well liked, but our parents didn't realise just how many people loved her," he said.

"It was a comfort to us and Olivia."

Maria's mother Bernadette also paid tribute to her daughter and thanked everyone who had contributed to the fundraising appeal.

She said: "Both myself and her dad Mal are very proud of her.

"She was so brave over the last twelve months after her diagnosis and fought the disease to the very end.

"It was very touching to see how many people came to her funeral."

As well as the online crowdfunding page, The Church Inn organised a fundraising night in memory of Maria including an auction, raffle and kissing booth as well as sponsored back wax and head shave.

Lisa McAllister, Maria's friend and wife of The Church Inn landlord Joe McAllister, said: "Maria was a Failsworth girl, born and bred, and was well known and well loved.

"She had a larger than life personality and lit up the lives of everyone she knew.

"She is greatly missed by staff and regulars alike and the pub has a permanent tribute to her in the main bar and even has a song for her, 'Maria' by Blondie, which is played regularly in the pub and always gets a fantastic reaction from everyone.

"Maria will always be in the hearts of her family, friends and the Failsworth community, and the money raised in her memory is an incredible tribute to how much she is loved and missed by everyone."