81-year-old grandma writes children’s book for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity after hospital ‘saved my life’

An 81-year-old grandmother has written a heart-warming children’s book for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity to say thank you to the hospital which ‘saved my life’.

Mary Spooner created Chuck the Duck, a real-life tale about a family of feathered friends who lived on the top of her shed, after having treatment for lung cancer.

And the former primary teacher has now sold 200 copies across the world and raised more than £600.

She says: “It was a small thing that I did for myself and for Clatterbridge, but I am very proud of the book and thankful to Clatterbridge.

“Clatterbridge is very different to other hospitals because they treat you like you are special.”

Mary adds: “I have had 12 sessions of radiotherapy after being diagnosed with lung cancer in April last year. 

“When I found out I had cancer I stayed positive and was determined it wasn’t going to beat me. I’m well now and hopefully will stay well.”

Keen artist Mary found she had plenty of time on her hands while she was undergoing treatment and enjoyed watching the ducks on the top of her shed every day.

She explains: “This duck laid eggs in a nest on the top of my shed in a climbing hydrangea and sat on the nest for about 42 days.

“On the 42nd day I was looking out of my kitchen window and she jumped down onto the ground; and then all of a sudden 11 tiny little ducklings jumped into the air and landed on the lawn, and bounced.

“It was magical. You wouldn’t have believed it if you hadn’t have seen it.

“I fed these ducks and they started to come to me every day, and if I didn’t feed them they would come into the house. One day they came into the front room as me and my husband Jeff were watching the television.

“They lived with me for four or five months; I fed them twice a day and they became my friends.”

Mary, who lives in Beeston, Cheshire, goes on: “I decided to draw the ducks, and then I thought I would write a story about them and what these ducks did. It’s a true story … except that the ducks didn’t talk to me, or at least not in a language I could understand!!”

Mary originally had 20 copies printed which she sold to family and friends, before needing to have another 50 printed, then another 50 and so on.

It cost her £6.50 per book to have printed and then she sold them for £10 with £3.50 from each sale going to Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.

With only 12 books left, Mary has given the rights of Chuck the Duck to Clatterbridge in the hope that they – or someone else – may be able to pay for more to be printed with all proceeds going again to the charity.

“It would be nice if it could be printed with Clatterbridge’s logo and carry on raising money. It’s a beautiful book which looks really good. If I am going to have anything done, I do it properly,” smiles Mary, who has three grown-up children, Matthew, James and Rachel, and three grandchildren, Anna, Daniel and Isla.

It’s not the first time she and her family have raised money for Clatterbridge.  Her brother David and her sister Ruth were both treated for cancer at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and, although both have now sadly passed away, before she died Ruth raised more than £2,000 for its cancer charity.

“Last year my granddaughter Anna, who is going to vet school, raised more than £1,000 with a 100km horse ride in June last year. So after that it was my turn.

“Clatterbridge saved my life – and I wanted to say thank you.”

Hannah Walsh, community fundraiser for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity says: “We are so grateful to Mary whose creativity and generosity are an inspiration to us all.

“The story of Chuck is not only raising much needed funds to help patients with cancer, but it will also entertain all who read it.

“It is thanks to people like Mary that Clatterbridge Cancer Charity is able to help more than 36,000 patients from Merseyside, Cheshire and the surrounding areas who attend The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre every year.

“From everyone at Clatterbridge, we thank Mary for her incredible support and for sharing Chuck’s story with the world.”

Find out more about Chuck the Duck here.

Get the latest news around Liverpool HERE.