“I had to go to my parents’ home and tell them I had cancer. It was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do,” she recalls.

But, once Jacqui processed the news, something extraordinary happened. She decided to raise funds for a few home comforts for patients who, like her, were having treatment at Leeds Cancer Centre. Her fundraising appeal snowballed – and soon Jacqui was on a mission to raise a million pounds.

A decade on, her charity appeal – Jacqui’s Million – has reached the halfway mark. Thanks to Jacqui’s tireless fundraising, her campaign has raised an incredible £500,000 for Leeds Hospital Charity.

Jacqui’s remarkable milestone has been celebrated at an event at the Bexley Wing at St James’s Hospital in Leeds, home to the cancer centre. Esther Wakeman, CEO of Leeds Hospitals Charity, paid tribute to Jacqui’s Million, and Jacqui was presented with a glass memento honouring her achievements.

The emotional event also featured a performance from Unity: the After Cure Choir, comprising cancer survivors.

Jacqui at the emotional celebration event. Image: Leeds Hospitals Charity Jacqui at the emotional celebration event. Image: Leeds Hospitals Charity

Jacqui, 62, from Apperley Bridge, is a former choreographer who has worked with many local theatre companies and ran Debut Academy theatre school in Shipley for 20 years. In 1993 Jacqui found a small mole on her leg. It turned out to be melanoma and she had surgery to remove it. Then, 16 years later, she was given the devastating news that her skin cancer was back and was stage 4.

Despite undergoing three major operations, and having her right lung removed, Jacqui remained positive and threw herself into fundraising, determined to make a difference to thousands of cancer patients in the region. Her positive attitude takes positivity to a whole new level, and this has been at the heart of Jacqui’s Million.

A decade after setting up her appeal, Jacqui continues to have treatment every four weeks at Leeds Cancer Centre, a place which she says has become a second home. She calls the Bexley Wing “my favourite place”.

Jacqui with medical equipment her appeal has fundedJacqui with medical equipment her appeal has funded

Says Jacqui: “Three operations on my leg ensured I could keep doing what I do best – dancing and choreographing!

“In 2011 the melanoma had spread to my lungs. Chemotherapy kept it at bay but the tumour in my right lung escalated and in 2015 my lung was removed. Since then I’ve continued with chemotherapy, other drugs for side effects and immunotherapy. Life expectancy for my condition is usually one year – and here I am, 14 years on.

“When my cancer came back, I never thought for one minute that I’d have my own fundraising campaign. But it became apparent what I could do using my own cancer story to help so many other patients. It’s not only the fundraising, but spreading positivity and giving hope to others. Being the face of Jacqui’s Million is an honour and privilege. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together and I will bring in the rest of that well-needed million – it is my goal and legacy.”

Jacqui and fellow performers at Bare All - a show in which she and other cancer survivors 'bared all' on stageJacqui and fellow performers at Bare All – a show in which she and other cancer survivors ‘bared all’ on stage

Jacqui has organised and hosted a huge variety of fundraising events over the years, as well as selling her Jacqui’s Million merchandise at hospital stalls and providing peer support to other people living with cancer. In 2020, during the pandemic, she launched a BCB radio show, Cancer Journeys, interviewing people whose lives were affected by cancer, from patients to clinicians.

“During the time I’ve spent at Leeds Cancer Centre as a patient, I’ve seen firsthand the tremendous work they do,” says Jacqui. “The money donated to Jacqui’s Million is used in a variety of ways for cancer patients, from children to adults. We’ve funded scalp coolers, drip stands, a lead nurse in anti-systemic cancer therapy, and refurbished the waiting room. People can see where every penny goes.

“But Jacqui’s Million is more than raising funds – it’s also about peer support, something very precious to me. Helping patients and their families, giving them hope and positivity in their time of need.”

Jacqui has won several awards over the yearsJacqui has won several awards over the years

The money raised through Jacqui’s campaign has funded equipment and projects that go beyond what the NHS can provide – from state-of-the-art equipment to help diagnose and treat patients to pioneering research and the smaller things that make an impact, like comfortable chairs for patients having chemotherapy.

Jacqui has won awards for her fundraising, and was a regional finalist in the Pride of Britain Awards.

“Jacqui is a truly remarkable woman,” says Paul Watkins, Director of Fundraising at Leeds Hospitals Charity. “It is incredibly impressive for one person to single-handedly lead fundraising efforts of this magnitude and raise half a million pounds. So many people have got behind Jacqui because of her inspirational story and her positive outlook on life despite her cancer diagnosis.

“Jacqui’s fundraising has benefited so many people, from cancer patients to their loved ones and the dedicated staff caring for them. We’re all immensely grateful for her dedication. Here’s to the next £500k!”

Looking back over a decade of fundraising, Jacqui says: “So many things stand out, they have all made a huge impact, but some of my highlights are:

* Publishing a children’s sun awareness book, Adventures in the Sun with Edi, Hassan and Chen, with my friend Sandra Hudson, who was also a cancer patient;

* The Mad Hatter’s PositiviTEA Parties at Hollins Hall, Baildon;

* Annual cabarets and productions I’ve staged. Last year’s Rock Nativity, in just one day, raised £10,000. This year we’re staging Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and I hope to raise another £10,000;

* My Jacqui’s Million branded merchandise which I sell at Leeds Cancer Centre and my events;

* My Cancer Journeys show on BCB Radio.

* My peer support and positivity for fellow cancer patients and their families. 

* For more about Jacqui’s appeal visit jacquismillion.com