BLACKBURN Rovers stars led by manager Mark Hughes attended the funeral of a devoted Rishton charity worker who died of cancer at 42.
Mother-of-two Siobhan Cooper, of George Street, was a pool attendant at the Rovers Academy at Brockhall, where she helped look after many up-and-coming young footballers including David Dunn and Steven Reid.
Siobhan, who had lost eight family members to cancer, died last Wednesday in the East Lancashire Hospice from secondary liver cancer after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995.
Her mum Coleen Morgan said: "Throughout her entire illness she never complained. She was a happy-go-lucky person with a smile for everyone. Other people’s happiness really mattered to her."
Siobhan’s dedication to fund-raising began in 2004 after she lost her close friend Simon Catlow, 24, to cancer.
She raised thousands of pounds for the Christie Hospital in Manchester with help from her many friends at the Rishton Arms.
Her dad Mick Morgan said: "She was a friend as well as a daughter. She was so loving and very family-orientated, I don’t know what we’ll do without her. She had such a big heart and time for everyone. Even as she was lying on her death bed she was organising an event to raise more money, but that is what she was like."
A charity ball she organised at Langho Football Club will go ahead in her honour on 3 May. The event will help buy a radiotherapy scanner for the Rosemere Cancer Centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, where she underwent treatment.
Siobhan’s funeral took place at St Mary’s RC Church in Langho on Wednesday, when hundreds of mourners paid their respects.
They included Rovers’ Dutch international Andre Ooijer, England under-21 star Matt Derbyshire and local lad David Dunn.
Midfielder Dunn said: "She was very well liked around the club and will be missed. It is sad she lost her fight at such a young age."
Siobhan also leaves a 12-year-old son Morgan John and a 20-year-old daughter Lauren Ann.
Mrs Morgan added: "I don’t know how we would have coped without the help of so many people. Her brothers and sister Ann-Marie, Tyrone and Aidan have been amazing and so has Debbie Slack, her best friend. Siobhan’s ex-husband Eric has been a godsend and has helped all the family more than he will never know."
Anyone who would like to make a donation towards the scanner at the Rosemere Cancer Centre can do by writing to Debbie Slack, 2 Station Road, Rishton.
