Miracles

Keep Dom's dream alive!

Help

From Page 1

Haven founder dies - safe in the knowledge that cancer care centre is spared

CRUSADING cancer champion Dom Valdez died suddenly this week - the day after saving his beloved Halton Haven.

He passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Palacefields home in Runcorn, aged 59, early on Saturday morning.

The day before he died, he met with officials from the health authority to put together a rescue package for the cancer care centre.

This week, North Cheshire Health confirmed they would be making an additional grant to secure the future of the hospice.

A spokesman for NCH said:"It was typical of Dom that he was working for the haven right up to his death.

"Last Friday, he met with the health authority and we had been able to assure him that we would be able to extend our financial support to the Haven.

"The details were to have been discussed with Dom next week.

"We are quite clear that Dom's work will live on and we will, as we promised Dom, be making additional grants to the Haven to help them over this particularly difficult time."

It follows months of stress and worry as Dom struggled to keep the Haven afloat.

Only three weeks ago, as the centre faced its biggest cash crisis, he asked the World to launch a rescue appeal.

Big-hearted readers rallied round with all sorts of fund-raising events - and we are now more than half-way towards the £25,000 needed to save the hospice.

This week, we urge you all to join us - and keep Dom's dream alive.

Our pledge of continued support is echoed by Halton councillor Pat Tyrrell who was this week appointed acting chairman of the board of trustees at the Haven.

He said: "My message to the people of Halton is that the Haven has to not only continue but also be put on a firm, sound basis.

"We are very grateful for the help we have received in recent weeks and hope that this will continue.

"My job is to ensure that the Haven continues to provide care and, in the long term, stays as a viable place for the people of Halton who need it.

"It will be a living tribute for the work that Dom did."

COURAGEOUS Dom pioneered a unique "remedy" for cancer - the best medical treatment available blended with tender loving care.

He pledged to create a haven for cancer sufferers 19 years ago, after his wife, Lin survived a scare.

It was a long, uphill battle to turn his dream into reality, but he never gave up hope.

With just 50p, a tiny room and a band of devoted volunteers, he soon won the support of 'Joe public'.

He was unemployed and had no qualifications, but, with drive, determination and bags of laughter and enthusiasm, his vision eventually came to life.

However, he could not have succeeded without the support of his wife Lin and their two sons, Martin, 28, and Stuart, 26, who all now work at the haven.

Even when he had a massive heart attack in January 1992, underwent surgery the following year and was diagnosed with cancer, he refused to let go.

He continued to run the centre from his hospital bed! On several occasions, he even discharged himself, he was so eager to get back to the Haven.

Months later, he was overwhelmed to receive a top honour from the Queen, a BEM.

Even then, he said the accolade belonged to the people of Halton who had helped him fulfill his dream.

Only days before he died, Dom had nothing but gratitude to all our readers who came to his rescue.

He was even planning to throw several social functions throughout Widnes and Runcorn to say 'thank-you'.

In his last interview, he said:"People out there are doing a brilliant job. Everyone is proving the age of miracles hasn't past.

"It is their haven. I will never close its doors to the people who need its services."

For the first time in weeks, Dom sounded relieved and reassured that his treasured haven would survive.

"I have had meetings with the health authority and they are bending over backwards to do something to help us. They are so keen and eager that we survive.

"They have always tried to support us. They understand and realise how people feel about the haven. They know we will always have the support of the local community."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.