News

11 December 2025

And how you can help this Christmas, and beyond too.

Lots of people have been joining our Merry Kiss-mas campaign by dedicating a bauble on Dianne’s tree with a kiss for someone they love.

Here, our chair and friend of Dianne, Jo, tells us more about why it’s so important…

 “It was through Spread the Word that my friend self diagnosed and got herself to her doctor who was very prompt in organising the tests needed. She is undergoing chemotherapy now. Thank you so much.”

We receive so many messages like this one.  Messages that aren’t just words on a page but are real, tangible evidence that by raising awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, we’re changing – and saving – lives.

When we set up the charity in our lovely friend Dianne’s memory, we were adamant that, despite the tragedy we’d all been through, positive actions would come.

We wanted more families and friends to have more time together than we had with our wonderful Dianne.  And we wanted to do that right here in the North West, a place Dianne was proud to call her home.

Time with family and friends is arguably never as important as it is at Christmas, which, I think, is why ‘Merry Kiss-mas’ is proving so popular with people from across the North West and beyond.

If you’ve already taken part, thank you so much.  And if you haven’t, there’s still time.

If you haven’t seen it yet, we’re asking if you can take a moment or two to send a kiss-mas dedication to someone special via our online tree. 

By visiting www.dianneoxberrytrust.org/kissmas you can dedicate a bauble to someone you love, someone you’ve loved and lost, or even someone you’d like to meet under the mistletoe this festive season.

It’s really simple, takes just a minute or two, but every donation – however large or small – could help us reach even more people about the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Early diagnosis is proven to lead to much better outcomes for many people, which is why we exist to shout loudly and proudly about the symptoms to look out for. 

We want anyone across the North West who experiences any of the symptoms to feel empowered to visit their GP and ask for advice and tests. 

We are unapologetic in our vision to see a future where no-one in our region dies from ovarian cancer.

And you can help right now.

As such a small charity, the support you give through taking part in ‘Merry Kiss-mas’ is incredibly powerful.  It means we can carry on our work in Dianne’s name and help as we strive to create a lasting legacy in her honour.

Every positive action taken by people who support our work – however they choose to do so – helps as we move towards that vision. So, thank you. 

I’m really proud that we’ve managed to do so much in the short time our charity has existed – and it’s all thanks to the kindness of people across the North West and beyond.

So, please pucker up and visit www.dianneoxberrytrust.org/kissmas and make your dedication now. 

As this person who messaged us said:

“Keep doing what you’re doing and spreading awareness. It only has to reach one person to potentially save a life like mine. Thank you.”