When Peter Holliday first noticed the lump on his neck he put it down to swollen glands and carried on as normal.

It was only when he started losing weight that he finally went to the doctor – and was diagnosed with throat cancer.

A self-employed agricultural contractor, his first thought wasn’t even the illness, but how he and wife Ali would cope financially while he underwent surgery and subsequent treatment.

Peter, 53, said he doesn’t know what they would have done without the help of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI) and Macmillan Cancer Support, which both came to the rescue.

The couple have now raised more than £13,000 for the charities, so they can continue to help those most in need.

Peter, of Blackdyke, Silloth, said: “My first thought... the cancer didn’t worry me at all. Yes it was cancer, yes it was life-threatening but it didn’t faze me because the doctors knew what they were doing.

“What worried me was financial. We found out our insurance didn’t cover us. All of a sudden we had no income, and it was likely to stay that way for 12 months. The bills were piling up. That was a worry.”

Macmillan stepped in to make sure the couple were getting all of the help they were entitled to, including assisting them with the applications for discounts and benefits. Then someone suggested they get in touch with RABI – a charity that helps farming families in need.

Ali said: “We’ve never asked anyone for help. We felt guilty about it. But they came out to see us and were brilliant.”

Peter said they received a cheque shortly afterwards to help clear the bills that were mounting up.

“That was a huge relief. Knowing that was taken care of. But we always said we’d pay them back.”


Peter Holliday Peter was diagnosed on February 20 last year.

“It was just a swelling on my neck. But I was losing weight and feeling tired. They pretty much said straight away it was cancer,” he said.

“I remember it was a nice night. I came out of the doctor’s at Silloth and walked down the sea front with the dog. I could hear the geese. I walked up there for about three-quarters of an hour until I got it all straight in my head, then that was me sorted. That’s how I dealt with it.”

Three weeks later he underwent major surgery, being in theatre for more than seven hours. It was followed by 36 sessions of radiotherapy.

A fit and active man, the effects of the treatment still took it out of him.

“The radiotherapy took all the skin off the side of my face, inside and out. It was pretty tough,” he said.

After the surgery he had another scare when he suffered a major bleed while at home, ending up back in hospital.

He also had to learn how to swallow again – something he was determined to do quickly to avoid having to rely on a feeding tube – and was left physically tired from all the treatment.

But even then workaholic Peter couldn’t sit back and rest. He continued to do as much as his body would let him, refusing to let the cancer win.

“What’s the point sitting around feeling miserable? If you’re going to die there’s nothing you can do about it,” he said.

But he admits he was too ill to have made a living, and he doesn’t know what they would’ve done without RABI and Macmillan.

“It’s unbelievable the pressure that took off. It came at a bad time of year money-wise. I thought I was going to have to sell my tractor so we would have something to live off,” said Peter.

“It saved my business. It’s taken me 35 years to build it up and it would have set me back about 20 years.”

The were determined to do something to repay the money so Ali and best friend Dawn Williams got to work planning a charity night. It took place on April 9 at Wheyrigg Hall Hotel, Wigton, and all 200 tickets sold out. There were 88 lots in the auction of promises, ranging from microlight flights to golf days, all donated by friends, family, customers and local businesses. The most obscure prizes were a chance to name an Eddie Stobart truck and a Belgian blue calf.

The couple also bought an overnight stay with dinner at Overwater Hall as a mystery prize to add a surprise element to the night. In total they raised £13,070 in just one night, to split between the two charities.

“I just can’t take it in,” said Ali. “At one point I heard my sister-in-law say that we’d raised more than £12,000. I nearly fell over backwards.”

Peter added that organising the night gave Ali something positive to focus on throughout his treatment.

The couple thanked everyone who supported them both during Peter’s illness and through their fundraising.

“It’s family and friends that get you through times like this. We’ve had a lot of support,” added Peter.

Now the couple are urging people to be on the lookout for the signs of throat cancer, and get any strange lumps checked immediately.

They are also raising awareness of the charities and say people shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when they need it.