Woman to fall silent for third fundraising challenge in memory of husband

An Andreas woman will fall silent this week as she takes on her third fundraising challenge in memory of her late husband.

Liz Hignett is preparing to spend an entire day without speaking in memory of Darren, known as ‘Daz’, who died from bladder cancer in September 2023.

Darren died the day before the couple’s 25th wedding anniversary, following an 18-month battle with the disease.

Since his death, Liz has taken on a different challenge each year to honour his memory while raising money for cancer research.

Her latest effort will see her swap walking boots for silence tomorrow (Friday, September 18).

‘For this year’s challenge I have decided to give my legs a rest and my jaw!’ Liz told Isle of Man Today.

‘I wanted to do something “easy” and a sponsored silence for a scouser is easy yeah?’

Darren was fit and healthy, did not drink or smoke, and Liz said his only real vice was a ‘spicy curry’.

He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in October 2021 and underwent major surgery in March 2022.

At that point, the family believed he had beaten the disease, but the cancer was later found to have spread to his lymph nodes.

Liz said Darren subsequently underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but neither proved successful.

The family was eventually referred for a trial treatment, but by the time one was found, the cancer had spread extensively.

Liz said that on the night Darren died, she promised him that his ‘fight and the courage he had shown throughout would never be forgotten’.

‘So every year, for his anniversary I will honour and remember him and his strength and courage with some kind of challenge whilst hopefully raising some money for cancer research,’ she said.

Her first challenge, in 2024, was the ‘Walk of Life’, inspired by Darren’s love of Dire Straits.

The two-part memorial walk took place in Liverpool and on the Isle of Man, visiting locations which held special significance to Darren and his family.

It raised £3,750 for the Isle of Man Cancer Association.

Last year, Liz took on the ‘Ever-Ton’ challenge, completing a series of walks inspired by Darren’s lifelong support for Everton.

The challenge concluded at Everton’s old home ground, Goodison Park, where a memorial stone dedicated to Darren is present.

This year’s challenge will be considerably less strenuous physically, but Liz admits that staying silent for a full day could prove difficult.

Her plan is to get up, go to work, lock her office door, take the phone off the hook and remain in her department until 5pm.

‘That’s at least eight hours… add in two hours from when I get up to when I get to work, which is a total of 10,’ she said.

‘I’ll just sleep for the remaining 14 hours… easy peasy right?’

Liz said she had considered another walking challenge, and even briefly thought about rowing the distance between Liverpool and the Isle of Man on a rowing machine.

‘But that sounded a bit too hard!!’ she said.

Once again, the money raised will go towards cancer research through the Isle of Man Cancer Association.

Liz said that while cancer treatment is often the main focus, research is essential to developing those treatments in the first place.

‘Typically when we think about cancer we focus on treatment options but without research there would be no treatment,’ she said.

‘Anti-Cancer do a lot of work around research which is why they are my chosen charity of choice again for this year’s challenge.’

Liz said that throughout Darren’s illness, the family had relied on ‘hope’ and ‘humour’.

‘We cried at times but laughed double that,’ she said.

She added that the hope they held on to had allowed the family to create memories which they continue to cherish.

The sponsored silence will take place on Friday, September 18, with Liz hoping to continue the annual tradition of remembering Darren while supporting cancer research.

You can donate to the cause via this link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/liz-hignett-69