East Yorkshire family supports pioneering cancer research with tribute ball for loving daughter

A family from East Yorkshire has held a tribute ball in memory of their beloved daughter and sister, Kristina, who sadly passed away from ovarian cancer in 2021.

Lesley Bowser, together with her husband Philip and son Richard, organised ‘Kristina’s Butterfly Ball’ at the Lazaat Hotel in Cottingham, raising over £7,600 to help bring more pioneering cancer research to people in Yorkshire.

Since 2021, the family - known as ‘Team Bowser’ - has raised over £21,000 to support the work of Yorkshire Cancer Research, helping find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer in Yorkshire.

Their fundraising activities have included holding tractor runs and coffee mornings to selling craft goods, taking on walking challenges and running an allotment honesty box, with the help of Kristina’s grandparents and friends. Their most recent fundraising event – Kristina’s Butterfly Ball – was especially meaningful.

Lesley said: "Unfortunately, the pandemic meant we couldn’t do this at the time. Now, four years on, we finally brought her vision to life. Nearly 240 people came together to pay tribute to her and those who couldn’t make it sent in generous donations."

Everything Team Bowser does to support Yorkshire Cancer Research is in loving tribute to Kristina, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in April 2020 and sadly passed away 11 months later, aged 29.

In Yorkshire, around 11 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every week. Yorkshire Cancer Research funds pioneering research and services for people with cancer in the region, so more people in Yorkshire can live longer, healthier lives.

Kristina’s ball began with a celebration drink on arrival, followed by a sit-down dinner and heartfelt speeches from Lesley, Philip, and Richard - including a poem written by Kristina.

A special table was dedicated to Kristina, featuring a photo album filled with cherished memories from her life. Guests were invited to remember special moments with her and contribute to the album by writing a personal message.

Lesley credits much of the event’s success to her two close friends, Julia and Pam.

She said: “Holding a ball was an ambitious idea and I didn’t even think we’d sell half the tickets we did. We couldn’t have done it without the support from friends, families, and our local community in Cottingham, especially Julia and Pam, who helped with every step of the planning.” 

Julia lived next door to the Bowser family when Kristina first became ill. Before she retired, she was an Operations Director at the NHS, helping Yorkshire Cancer Research with its plans to roll out Active Together, a research-backed exercise cancer treatment service that helps people prepare for and recover from cancer treatment.

Julia said: “The three of us met in Lesley’s kitchen to plan everything, from booking the venue to deciding the menu. We had a lot of fun, and the feedback was amazing. I’ve never organised an event like this before, but I hope we’ve done Kristina proud by supporting a charity that funds such vital work for people with cancer. I know she’s keeping an eye on us all.”

Pam, who met Lesley over 30 years ago, was on the former Yorkshire Cancer Research Local Voluntary Group in Beverley. For 11 years, she helped raise funds for pioneering cancer research in Yorkshire, including hosting coffee mornings and raffles.

Talking about the inspiration behind the event’s name, Lesley said: “Butterflies are such beautiful, free creatures, but sadly they don’t live very long - like Kristina. Not long before she passed, Kristina said she always wanted to have wings and fly. So, in her memory, I had a butterfly tattooed on my wrist.”

Lesley concluded: "Our family has supported the work of Yorkshire Cancer Research for several years now. People in Yorkshire directly benefit from research the charity develops, but because Yorkshire is amazing, we’re also able to share these incredible discoveries with the rest of the world.

Dr Kathryn Scott, Chief Executive at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “Yorkshire Cancer Research would not exist without the commitment and dedication of supporters, who since 1925, have helped to find new cancer cures and bring them to people in Yorkshire. Thanks to the dedication and generosity of the Bowser family, the money raised will help researchers and cancer experts find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, so more people survive cancer in Yorkshire, and beyond.”