Aylesbury bids goodbye to inspirational Kim Pinnock

Inspirational Kim Pinnock raised thousands of pounds to ensure that people who were going through leukemia treatment could do so with their dignity intact.

Not only did Kim beat Leukemia, she also defied the odds after she was told she would never be able to have children after gruelling chemotherapy.

She passed last week after a short battle with breast cancer, aged 55, surrounded by her family.

She leaves behind her husband Houghton, daughters Amber and Jade, and Granddaughter Sienna, aged 12.

Kim Pinnock was born in London, but moved to Aylesbury when she was four years old.

She worked at Cuddle Club and Kids Kingdom nursery on the Tring Road in Aylesbury.

In 1985 Kim Pinnock was diagnosed with leukemia just a few days before her 21st Birthday.

During her treatment, she praised the fantastic hospital staff but noticed just how poor the conditions and facilities were for people on the ward.

At the time there were limited wash facilities, no baths and Kim had to use a chemical toilet.

Kim was locked inside this ward for nearly 6 weeks while she was undergoing gruelling treatment.

After overcoming her chemotherapy treatment, Kim resolved to do something about the conditions at Stoke Mandeville and set about raising £15,000 with her Mum Sylvia, dad Peter and Local Councillor Rodger Priest.

After Kim's appeal - money began to pour in from people who had experienced life in the 'wooden spoon ward' and from the sale of bricks from Aylesbury Market.

In total, Kim's appeal raised nearly £45,000 over several years, and the cubicles in the new leukemia ward which was the original 1X ward were named after Kim.

Speaking to Kim's daughter Jade, she said she feels unbearable sadness at the loss of such a selfless person.

She said: "I just can't believe she's gone.

"She was honestly one of the most beautiful, selfless people you could have wished to have known.

"She'd do anything for anyone.

"I posted the tragic news on Facebook yesterday and we've already had 1000s of comments from people who I don't even know explaining how Kim had touched their lives.

"Completely out of the blue a lady from the job centre who had been working with mum called us to tell how upset she was, and how in such a short time she'd inspired her so much."

The Bucks Herald also covered the story of Kim's leukemia battle back in 1986 - In a million to one coincidence - Kim's then boyfriend and future husband Houghton Pinnock had an exact match of the bone marrow needed to save Kim's life.

He donated his white blood cells to Kim back in 1986 and saved her life.

They were married in 1987.

After Kim's treatment for leukemia she was told by Doctors she would never have children.

She would go on to mother two children, Jade, who was born in 1988 and Amber, who was born in February 1991.

The family continued fundraising with Kim's daughter Amber and Jade holding a night at Niche to raise money for patients having treatment in the Cancer ward so they could have personal entertainment systems such as iPads available while staying for treatment.

The night raised nearly £6,000 and featured an auction where the family sold a boxing glove signed by Anthony Joshua which went for £1,000.

Amber, Kim's daughter said: "She wasn’t only a mum to me she was a mum to everyone and that’s why I’m so so proud

"The family are still raising money and would prefer donations to the cancer care and haematology unit at Stoke Mandeville hospital instead of flowers

"She leaves behind husband Houghton, daughters Jade and Amber, granddaughter Sienna, her mum and dad and brother

"Even at the end she was still looking after her poorly parents and us

Jade added: "she really was the most amazing person I could have ever wished to call my mum. She was always looking out for other people. I remember as my grandpa was really ill with dementia, she was there nearly every day helping him, always with a smile on her face."

Details of Kim's funeral are as follows:

Friday February 28, St Mary’s church 1.30pm.

The wake will be confirmed at a later date

Do you have any memories of Kim? Why not share them with the Bucks Herald?