Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 15
/NEWS
DRIVEN BY INSPIRATIONAL HUSBAND
A dying husband’s final words are inspiring a North East salon owner to make
a success of her new business and charitable work. Rachel Wright reports…
Champagne corks pop, the bubbly fizzes
over and the canapés go down a treat – this
is a time for celebration for a woman with a
new mission in life.
Recently bereaved Tori Dargue, who grew up in
Newton Aycliffe and went to Greenfield School,
is channelling her grief in an unusual direction
fulfilling a promise she made to her husband
during his final days in bed at a North-East
hospice.
“In the last week of Craig’s life he said he
wanted me to be strong for our two daughters
and he wanted me to put all my heartache and
sorrow into my new business, to make it work
for him and the girls, she says, looking fondly at
”
a precious picture of the 39-year-old.
“Because of this he has now become my driving
force and I am also determined to help the
hospice which helped us. It makes complete
sense to me to use the business to raise money
for the hospice because it means Craig is still
very involved in it too.
”
Craig’s health troubles began with a simple mole
on his upper back which had begun to change. It
proved to be malignant. A lump was later found
under his left arm and his lymph nodes had to
be removed. But eventually cancer was found on
his spine, lungs, legs, stomach and his brain. The
prognosis was grim; the news would have been
enough to shatter any family’s hopes.
Tori recalls: “I will never forget the words the
cancer nurse said when she told Craig she would
do anything for him to help him – but she could
not cure him. They did everything they could
to make him as comfortable as possible and
manage the pain he was having.
“The day we were told he only had hours to live
we were absolutely heartbroken, but I actually
got two more weeks with Craig in the hospice,
it was so peaceful there and I never left his side.
Craig’s spirit kept us going; he would often make
us laugh even when all we wanted to do was
cry.
”
Malignant melanoma is the deadliest form of skin
cancer which affects around 2,200 people every
year in the UK.
Dr Julie Sharp, senior science information
manager at Cancer Research UK, says:
“Melanoma is so deadly because it spreads
easily. This makes it harder to treat and is why
early diagnosis is so important so we can detect
the disease before it has spread to other areas.
”
Tori adds: “It was so hard to watch a healthy 6ft
guy be reduced to nothing but bones; to see
someone go through that is horrific. I would say
to anyone if they notice anything that doesn’t
look right on their skin go and get it looked at,
don’t ever be blasé about it.
”
Tori is now on a mission dedicating her life to
supporting St Cuthbert’s Hospice which helps
many families in similar situations.
“The care that the St Cuthbert’s Hospice in
Durham gave to Craig in his last days was just
incredible. Nothing was too much trouble for
them; they never stopped, they worked so hard
and anything he wanted they would go out of
their way to get it for him. It wasn’t just Craig
they looked after either, they helped me so much
in what was the darkest and hardest time of my
life. Now I want to be able to give something
back to them for what they did because I will
never forget it.
”
As a start the 36-year-old, of Ferryhill, organised a
glitzy glamorous pamper session for the ladies to
get the money rolling in.
Called ‘Glam and Give’, the event was a huge
success raising £605 for the hospice. Staged at
her salon, in the grounds of Walworth Castle,
near Darlington, scores of ladies were offered a
taste of glamour and the chance to give to the
hospice at the same time.
Nails painted, hair ‘up’ they experienced
professional make-up lessons courtesy of Jo
Leversuch, enjoyed glasses of fizz, a selection of
delicious canapés and cupcakes and left with a
L
’Oreal goody bag.
Tori’s mum Lynn Bowker, of Newton Aycliffe,
adds: “I am so proud of Tori for what she is
doing; her inner strength is incredible. Craig used
to say to her it wasn’t about him as she was
the one who was going to be left behind and he
would tell her to just go for it.
”
Tori has been overwhelmed by the support she
has received.
“Walworth Castle, Jo the make-up
artist and all my friends, family and
loyal clients have been fantastic
supporting me today and when things
were really tough. I truly appreciate it.
”
For further information on forthcoming
events in the salon call Tori on 01325 468945.