Mayor Buys Young Woman’s Artwork for £2,000 — Then Gives It Back to Her Family

A piece of artwork created by a young woman before her death has been bought for £2,000 — and then returned to her family in a deeply personal gesture.

Francesca McCaigue, known as Fran, was just 22 when she died in hospital on 6 July after living with complex congenital heart disease.

Fran had been supported by Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley, Lancashire, since she was eight years old.

Before her death, she had begun creating a piece of artwork for the hospice's charity ball.

She never had the opportunity to finish it.

Her sister, Chlöe, completed the artwork by adding her own contribution, helping create a lasting tribute to her sister.

A special connection to Derian House

Fran spent much of her childhood in and out of hospital because of her heart condition.

Her mother, Nicola, said Derian House had been an important part of Fran's life from the age of eight.

The hospice became a place where Fran could make friends, create memories and experience things that might otherwise have been difficult because of her health.

She even spent her 22nd and final birthday at the hospice.

After Fran died, she was taken to Derian House, where her family was able to spend time with her in one of the hospice's specially cooled Sunflower Rooms.

The rooms are designed to allow families more time with loved ones after death.

The artwork goes under the hammer

Fran's unfinished artwork was displayed at Derian House's second charity ball, held at the Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel.

The evening included an auction, raffle and live entertainment, with the event ultimately raising £43,226 for Derian House.

When the artwork came up for auction, the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Mahfooz Hussain, made the winning bid of £2,000.

But he had another intention.

Rather than keeping the artwork, he decided to give it back to Fran's family.

A moment the family will never forget

Fran's mother Nicola and sister Chlöe were presented with the artwork by the mayor.

Nicola said the family cried when they learned that the artwork was being returned to them.

She described it as "a beautiful moment".

Fran had been looking forward to attending the charity ball herself and had already chosen a special dress for the occasion.

Her mother said Fran had started the artwork earlier in the year, knowing it would eventually be displayed at the event.

Sadly, she never got the chance to see it completed.

Chlöe's contribution meant that the finished piece became a shared creation between the two sisters.

A lasting tribute to Fran

Caroline Taylor, deputy chief executive of Derian House, said seeing Fran's artwork take centre stage at the event had been particularly special.

She described it as a tribute to Fran's creativity and the bond she shared with her sister.

For the McCaigue family, the artwork now represents much more than a fundraising auction.

It is a tangible reminder of Fran, her creativity, her relationship with Chlöe and the hospice that had been part of her life for so many years.

Supporting families across the North West

Derian House provides care and support for babies, children and young people living with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, as well as their families.

The hospice says it costs around £6m a year to operate and supports more than 400 babies, children and young people across the North West.

The charity ball's fundraising will help support that work.

But for one family, the evening created something that money cannot easily measure.

A piece of Fran's creativity has come home.

And thanks to a £2,000 winning bid that became an unexpected gift, her family now has a lasting reminder of the young woman who created it.