17/09/2026
Hi everyone. Yesterday day my wifey Caz Heyes-Smith smashed Round 3 of Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy so I thought today would be a great time to tell you all about the amazing fundraising events that are being held throughout the LGBT Rainbow Quarter over the next few months up to Christmas 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
What started off as few friends wanting to cheer Caz up with a night of fun and laughter soon turned into a full on mission and then a meeting with some amazing venues coming forward wanting to get involved 😀
It was put to Caz that she could pick a charity to raise money for and Caz chose the incredible Trinity Hospice and Palliative Care in Bispham. They are absolutely amazing at what they do, they help both of us so so much ❤️
Here’s a little bit of Caz’s story for anyone who doesn’t know.
In June last year Caz was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer. To say we were shocked was an understatement as she had had no symptoms. A further 5 months of gruelling treatment began with 6 weeks of intense Chemotherapy straight into 5 weeks of Chemo- Radiotherapy with the Radiotherapy being everyday. The final step was 3 sessions of brachytherapy at Christies Manchester.
People tend to think (much to our unfortunate experience) when you end your treatment and you ring that bell you are cured and that's it, come on, it's time to get back to 'normal' where in truth there is no normal anymore, it's gone and just leaves an empty shell. This took its toll massively mentally as well as physically but by February this year she was back on the stage singing her heart out and recording more music with the amazing Ross Alexander. They had already recorded Naked in the Rain two months previous to her diagnosis and were so excited to release the single 🌟
She was given the all clear from cancer and told the treatment had worked with an excellent response but she felt different and all we can say is to please listen to your body if you feel anything new or different. Only a month out of treatment she started having pain that she hadn’t had before in her ribs so after more blood tests and CT scans we then got the call to go for a Bone Scan.
A couple of weeks later at our appointment with her new Oncologist he went on to tell us yes, the cancer was back but this time it was in her bones which explains the pain she had been having. This time there is no cure but it is manageable. Forms were signed that feel you are literally signing your life away, and a treatment plan was made.
Just before her treatment started on the Friday morning, the morning of her last gig at Peekabooze she got up, made her way downstairs and came into the kitchen in tears, collapsing in a heap with the pain and we had to ring her Cancer Nurse at Preston who said all we could do was go to A and E but we didnt want to go with chemo starting in a few days and we would just cope with the meds she was on. A day later her Oncology Nurse rang Caz and was told (those who know Caz will know how this went down lol)....Now Caz I don't want you to panic but I have referred you to Trinity Hospice for Palliative Care. Let's just say she had a little meltdown. In short all was explained properly and now she is on Palliative Care at Trinity Hospice who are amazing and manage her pain relief. Don't worry though she has no plans to go any where soon and she will be back on that stage before you know it.
We want to take this opportunity to raise awareness about what Palliative Care actually is, to break the stigma that it doesn’t always just mean the end. For a lot of Cancer patients it’s just the beginning of getting the right treatment both mentally emotionally and physically not just for the patient but also their families too 🫶
So over the next few months you will be seeing a lot more posts from us telling you where these amazing nights of entertainment and fundraising will be. I also have a huge announcement that I will tell you all about very soon ❤️
So it all starts this Friday with the first Fundraiser at Mardi Gras. Team Mardi have put together an amazing line up and night all to raise funds for Trinity in Caz's name 🥰 Please drop in for a fabulous night for a very worthy cause 😍
