A mum who lost her daughter to cancer will carry her with her as she fulfils one of her daughter’s final bucket list dreams. Laura Nuttall was given just one year to live following her diagnosis with an aggressive form of brain cancer in 2018.
Glioblastomas are one of the most common and lethal types of brain cancers there are, with just five per cent of people diagnosed living past a five-year prognosis. However, the former Manchester student from Barrowford, Lancashire, ‘refused to accept that as her fate’ and made every day count, chalking up an impressive bucket list before her passing in May 2023, aged just 23.
From meeting Michelle Obama to watching the Lionesses win the women’s World Cup - Nicola, Laura’s mum, said there was a lot her eldest daughter experienced in her much too short life.
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"Laura was a force of nature. She was given a 12 month prognosis but instead of accepting that as her fate, we found other treatments abroad, raised money for her, ticked a lot of things off her bucket list.
“She even went back to Manchester university where she graduated last year with a 2.1 in Philosophy, Politics and Economics."
What began as “10 really random things” on a list soon “took legs”, Nicola said, as more people began to get involved and help Laura achieve her many dreams.
The inspiring young woman even managed to get Peter Kay to come out of retirement in August, 2021, as the comedy legend returned to the stage to raise money for Laura’s treatment.
Nicola said: “My husband, Mark, knew Peter Kay from when we all worked at Granada together and had lost touch with him to a degree somewhat. But he got in touch with us when he heard about Laura’s diagnosis and asked if he could help in any way.
“I was going to put on a ball and I asked him how he would feel about doing maybe a 10 minute slot for us and he replied “I can do you one better than that”, and put on a show in the Manchester Apollo!”
Cancer care charity Maggie’s Manchester was a special place to the Nuttall family during tough times. The centre, next to The Christie Hospital in Withington, offers practical and emotional support to people affected by cancer.
“It was always lovely to go to Maggie’s and spend time in that beautiful, relaxing space," Nicola recalled. "Being there with people who knew why you were there and knew what you were dealing with so you didn't have to ask questions or probe. It was just a break away, have a cup of tea and relax, to prepare for what was coming next really."
Two years ago, Laura was excited to take part in the charity’s Maggie’s On The Runway (MOTR), a huge fashion fundraising event, with her friend Liam. However, it was not to be as the friends caught Covid the night before the event.
“It was really unfortunate actually because Laura had her dress and shoes, she was all ready to hit the catwalk but tested positive for Covid the night before, alongside her friend Liam and neither of them could take part.
“We already had our tickets and it was a really lovely event, we missed her so much but it was great to be there and cheer on all the other models on the catwalk. Margo [one of the organisers of MOTR], said she would put on another one so her and Liam could get their chance to do the walk again,” Nicola said.
Tragically, both Laura and Liam have since passed away ahead of MOTR event on November 17. In Laura’s honour, Nicola will be strutting down the catwalk with Laura close to her heart.
“Unfortunately neither Laura nor Liam are going to be there to see it - Liam, who also had brain cancer, died a couple months after Laura this year. I was asked if I’d like to take Laura’s place on the catwalk this year and I thought it would be a nice way to remember her.
“I’ve had a ring made with her ashes in and a necklace with her fingerprint on it and a tattoo with her initials as well so she is very much with me all the time now.”
Nicola, her husband Mark and daughter Gracie, 21, now carry the torch for Laura, who was a very passionate young advocate for brain cancer. The family have set up he Be More Laura Foundation to help fund research on brain cancer’s like Laura’s.
“We set up a foundation in Laura’s name and sold t-shirts with her words on it, from a letter she was asked to write for her local primary school. We sold about £25,000 worth of shirts and bags which is quite a lot.
“In Laura’s name, we’ve donated £25,000 to The Brain Tumour Charity to fund a research trial investigating whether combining nabiximols and chemotherapy can help people diagnosed with a glioblastoma live longer, better lives than chemotherapy alone.
“We very much intend to do lots more things as time goes on and raise funds in any way that we can to keep Laura’s memory a live and make sure it’s better for the people that come after us because it’s a horrible disease and it kills, unfortunately, more children than adults than any other cancer. So we’re gonna do something about that.”
