Bowling along in memory of Yvonne

The marathon fundraiser is taking place at Dunstable’s Go Bowling! on Saturday (September 3) from 10am.

It has been organised by former colleagues of the popular systems administrator.

Team member Hemal Morjaria said: “It’s a really challenging task but something Yvonne would have loved us to do.

“She was always keen on bowls and played in both the Sunday and Tuesday doubles leagues.

“Yvonne was close to all our hearts. She was the oldest in the team but we always had a good laugh. She was our mother figure but she was also one of us and we got on really well.

“The company was adamant that we should so something in her memory and they are going to match any money we raise.”

Former Manshead student Yvonne, who lived with her partner Kim Pollard in Stopsley, was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago.

Close friend and sister-in-law Wendy Dee of Launton Close in Luton said: “It was the most aggressive form and it went to all her other organs.

“She was being treated for liver cancer but the tumour was too big. They planted ‘seeds’ to shrink it but little bits wandered off elsewhere.

“Yvonne could hardly walk and was in a lot of pain. But she never gave up. Towards the end I could see that she’d had enough. She died at the hospice in May.”

The two met as teenagers when they worked together at Littlewoods’ food hall in the Arndale. They followed each other to Bhs where both were in the finance office. Wendy met her partner David through Yvonne – he was her brother.

“She was the second eldest of six and the family are all into bowling,” Wendy said.

“I miss everything about her. She was the nicest person to know – a lovely bubbly lady who would help anyone with anything.

“We went to friends in York every year to give them a hand selling their Christmas trees. She couldn’t come last year because she was having treatment. But they organised a stall in aid of cancer research.

“She had a huge circle of friends wherever she went and they’re all keen to raise money in her memory.” Wendy added: “Yvonne loved camping, it was her other great passion, apart from bowling. We’d throw a couple of tents in the back of the car and a crowd of us would go off together.

“She was my friend and a fantastic aunty to my son. She’s always there in the back of my mind.

“It’s terrific that her colleagues have organised this marathon to celebrate her life but it doesn’t surprise me. She was like that, she inspired everyone she met.”

Hemal said: “We hope everyone will come along to Go Bowling! on Saturday to support the Stonegate Pub team which is about 60 strong. We’ll have lots of collection boxes there and everyone is welcome.

“All the money we raise in Yvonne’s memory will go to cancer research.”