If you walk into the Oak Road entrance of The Christie hospital in Manchester, past the reception and next to the Rehabilitation Department, you will find the newly re-developed Recognition Wall. In the middle section of this display, a new medallion now sits permanently. It bears the name of Lola Berry.
For the casual observer, it is a marker of charitable giving. For James Berry, our First Team Performance Chef, and his family, it represents the end of a long, dark chapter and the beginning of a brighter one.
The story began in March 2023. Lola, then just four years old, began vomiting in the mornings. What her mother, Kerry Thomas, initially suspected was a routine childhood bug quickly escalated into every parent’s worst fear. A cautious GP referred them to A&E and scans revealed the unthinkable: a brain tumour.
The speed of the response was absolute. Surgeons operated the next day to remove the mass but the road to recovery demanded a gruelling seven-week course of Proton Beam Therapy - 36 separate sessions of high-precision radiation designed to target the cancer while sparing a developing brain.
Lola did not just endure this treatment; she redefined it. She attended every single appointment dressed as a princess or a queen. She turned a clinical environment into her own royal court, charming the radiographers and oncologists who fought to save her life.
Her father, James, is the man responsible for fuelling the Bolton Wanderers First Team. James runs his kitchen with a strict "from scratch" philosophy - no pre-packaged sauces, no shortcuts, just honest hard work. He builds personal connections with the squad, treating the training ground not as a workplace, but as a family.
When the diagnosis hit, the club’s response was immediate. We told James to step away from the stoves. We instructed him to take as much time as he needed, maintaining his salary throughout the crisis so he could focus entirely on his daughter.
Gratitude often fuels action. Having witnessed the world-class care at The Christie - funded partly by The Christie Charity to provide services beyond the NHS baseline - the Berry family resolved to give back.
They launched a fundraising campaign that engaged the entire region. For Lola’s fifth birthday, they hosted a festival-style event at The Village on The Green in Aspull, raising just under £10,400. More recently, in December 2024, they partnered with Bolton Wanderers in the Community to host a Festive Afternoon Tea at Bolton Town Hall. Supported by Club Legends Peter Reid and John McGinlay, as well as the Mayor of Bolton, this single afternoon generated a further £3,500.
The funds raised have now culminated in the placement of the commemorative medallion on The Christie Charity Recognition Wall. This honour is reserved for those who make a substantial contribution to the Trust’s work. The medallion will remain on display for one year, visible to thousands of patients and staff, before being presented to the family in a box to keep forever.
The money raised supports vital initiatives, from funding the play team that kept Lola smiling to purchasing advanced diagnostic equipment like 4D CT scanners. It ensures that other families facing the darkness get the same chance to find the light.
A Word from The Christie
The team at The Christie expressed its gratitude for the donation and the awareness raised by the Berry family.
Louise Stimson, Head of Fundraising at The Christie Charity, says: “We are delighted that Lola responded well to treatment. Support for our Charity is crucial to allow us to ensure The Christie remains at the forefront of cancer research, treatment and care. We are very grateful for the support from James, his family, friends and Bolton Wanderers – all making a valuable contribution to the world class cancer treatment available at The Christie
A Message from James Berry
Our First Team Chef (pictured above) wanted to place on record his thanks to the medical team, the club and the supporters who stood by his family
"The Christie saved Lola’s life, but the support from Bolton Wanderers saved our family’s spirit. To the Gaffer, the staff and every fan who donated or sent a message - thank you. Seeing that medallion on the wall proves that no one fights alone in this family. We are proud of our little princess and we are proud to be part of this club."
Lola Berry’s medallion stands as proof of a little girl’s bravery and a football community that looks after its own.