1 minute read
Juliet Coffer
NLCS 1982 – 1989
Juliet died on 24th August 2022 aged 51. She had a vibrant personality and was always resolute, even during the hardest times of her illness. Indeed, included in her funeral instructions was the fact that all attendees needed to wear bright colours. Those of you who spent time with Juliet will understand this.
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Juliet really enjoyed her years at NLCS and always said that the School provided the best basis for her attitude towards life and work. She was also very proud to have been presented a prize by Esther Rantzen, aged 11, for dressing up as a pea pod!
She went on to study at Manchester University and graduated with a 2:1 which then led to a career in commerce. She was multi-talentedIT trainer, website manager/designer - a real creative talent.
Juliet became ill with sarcoidosis in 2005. This is a rare condition which causes small patches of swollen tissue, called granulomas, to develop on organs of the body. In Juliet’s case it affected her lungs to the extent that, latterly, she only had 50% lung capacity. In the last few years, she also developed pulmonary hypertension, lymphoma, myofascial pain syndrome and was on 24/7 oxygen. She had been shielding for over 900 days as she was immunosuppressed and feared getting Covid.
She bore her illness with bravery and fortitude although sometimes in extreme pain. Despite the deterioration in her health, she continued working and her husband, Gary, gave her incredible support. Her courage remained. In 2021, when barely able to walk she did a ‘Juliet marathon’ for Sarcoidosis UK to raise funds and awareness of the disease. By walking 3,000 metres in 30 days - all she was capable of doing - she raised over £50,000 in sponsorship. Awareness was raised too as she was featured on BBC, ITV, in national and local press, on Radio 5, LBC and she became the media go-to when questions of disability or shielding arose.
In 2022, she raised further funds by her ‘Hallway Challenge’, where she walked only 10 metres a day - a sign of her deteriorating health. Her Just Giving pages are still receiving donations and in November 2022 she was awarded a posthumous certificate, given by local media, in recognition of her fundraising success.
