A BLACKPOOL clairvoyant predicts piles of top prizes will be given away to help a desperately-ill Lytham mum at a charity show on July 28.
Medium Paula Paradaema was so touched by the Citizen's story of Liz Holt's race against time to raise £7,000 for lifesaving treatment in America, that she has organised a four-hour fundraiser for the Let Liz Live campaign at Blackpool's Tangerine Club from 8pm.
Showbusiness stars are putting in appearances and guest mediums will be giving demonstrations of their clairvoyant powers - plus a host of raffles and tombola prizes.
In addition, the larger-than-life Paula and friends will be dressing up as dolls, lions, tigers and fairies to tap Blackpool pub and club-goers this Friday and Saturday nights.
Mother of two Mrs Holt, 37, of Mornington Road, is fast deteriorating after 78 operations and 137 abscesses since she was stricken with diabetes five years ago.
With her body unable to tolerate injections, she needs a new type of insulin pump only available in America, but soon she will be too ill to travel.
Liz's husband, Robert, wrote to 700 firms asking for a £10 donation but so few responded they are still short by £5,000.
Said Paula: "When I first contacted the family I soon realised what a mountain they had to climb.
"I'm well-known in Blackpool and Robert needed help, so I just said we're going to set a target of raising this money by the end of August and I won't stop until it's done.
"I called my good friend Jack Diamond at the Tangerine Club who immediately agreed to the show.
"And I'm doing the rounds getting some super prizes from places like the Pleasure Beach, Asda, restaurants, amusement arcades and Basil Newby has allowed us to collect in all his clubs.
"I'm a great believer in sitting on people's doorsteps - as Robert found, letters won't do the job, but people can't ignore me when I'm sitting there with my face painted up asking for help."
Although no-one in Paula's family has suffered the debilitating disease, she was deeply moved when she met wheelchair-bound Liz.
"It's obvious she's desperately ill. She's only 37 - she should have a full life ahead of her.
"I just hope she's well enough to travel. But if she can't we'll carry on and raise the extra money needed to bring the treatment over here. We'll get her treated one way or another."
Robert Holt said: "We can't thank Paula enough - without her help I don't think Liz's treatment would happen."
Show tickets are £4. Book on (01253) 344334, or donate direct to the Elizabeth Holt Diabetes Fund at the Halifax plc, 26 St Georges Road, St Annes.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article