UK News

Tribute paid to child who died just one day before starting school

This is heartbreaking.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 11th September 2023

The parents of Rose O’Leary have issued a heartbreaking tribute to their child, who tragically died just hours before her first day of school.

The four-year-old had just undergone her third open heart surgery to help treat a heart condition, which she was diagnosed with at her 20-week scan.

The surgery took place last month but Rose contracted an infection and died several weeks later, The Hoot reports.

Rose, who was from Pool-in-Wharfedale near Leeds, passed away just one day before she was supposed to start school.

Her heartbroken parents, Katie and Sue O’Leary-Hall, have released a moving tribute to the four-year-old, describing her as ‘feisty’ and ‘gorgeous’.

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Issuing a tribute through a GoFundMe set up by a friend, they wrote: “Sue O’Leary-Hall and I are devastated to inform everyone that our beautiful baby girl, Rose, has lost her fight to CHD.

“She had her third open heart surgery on the 15th of August and despite battling ferociously for her life died yesterday after contracting an infection. We are spending the next few days at Martin House Hospice.

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“I have no words to describe the depth of the pain we feel on the day she should have started school.

“Rose was so full of love and life. Our lives will forever be shaped by knowing and loving her and they will certainly never be the same without her.

“Her feisty, strong willed and gorgeous nature will last forever in our hearts. Sleep well, beautiful girl.”

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Read more: The reason why Manchester United couldn’t sell Rasmus Højlund shirts is pretty silly

The GoFundMe has been set up to help with funeral costs for Rose and her family. It’s already raised almost £8,000 at the time of writing – double its target.

It reads: “I’m sorry we’re all connecting due to the tragic circumstances of Rose’s death. I’m sure we’re all grieving the devastating loss of such a beautiful, feisty little girl.

“Unfortunately with such tragic grief also comes the heartache and financial burden of arranging a funeral.

“I’m sure we all feel completely useless in this situation and would love to do anything to support Katie and Sue. Therefore, Amy, Laura and I have spoken to Katie about us arranging some donations from friends in order to support them with the financial costs of the funeral.

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“We completely understand that everyone’s situations are different and there’s absolutely no pressure to donate and there’s absolutely no set amount – just anything you feel you’re able to contribute.”

Featured image: GoFundMe

UK News

People are finally discovering this super easy money-saving food hack

Danny Jones Danny Jones itsu half price offer Manchester

These days, pinching the pennies and protecting the pounds wherever you can is more important than ever, so we have no intention of gatekeeping this game-changing itsu food hack.

For the longest time, we’ll admit that we thought itsu was just another good place to grab some fresh sushi, Asian-inspired meals and groceries, but after learning of this clever little loophole, it’s probably up there with one of our very favourite chains.

Starting out in London back in the late 90s, itsu has gone on to become a huge franchise with nearly 80 locations nationwide and, naturally, the risk that comes with a food brand getting this big is the almost unavoidable problem of waste.

However, what was once just a conveyor belt in Chelsea has turned into a super-efficient restaurant and fully established food brand that has also come up with a great way to not only help stop food from going to waste but save you money in the process too.

itsu Manchester on 1 Hardman Blvd, Spinningfields.
itsu prices aren’t pretty decent to start with given the quality.
We’re all about food hacks and cutting back the budget wherever we can. (Credit: The Manc Group)

Put quite simply, because itsu would quite rightly rather see food go in your gob than in the bin, they have a discount policy on their products that are about to go out of date.

Think Too Good To Go only more specific and with even more money off guaranteed.

Once the clock hits a certain time towards the end of trading hours, sushi, salad boxes and other cold food items can be purchased at 50% off their usual price to help save money and on food spoiling.

No, we’re not having you on: each and EVERY single day you can get highly-quality itsu sushi selection platters, rice and salad boxes, poke bowls and more at literally half-price. You can see the full details in their FAQs.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a random work night or a peckish walk home from the pub on the weekend, provided you go after 8:30pm and get there before they shut, you can grab some of your favourites at essentially a two-for-one rate. Sensational stuff.

You don’t even have to download an app, go up to the counter and have any kind of awkward conversation or anything like that: the digital pay screens will automatically update once the click strikes cha-ching and you can saunter out of the gaff with your scran.

Half price itsu? Don’t mind if we do.
50% off itsu every night.
Always leave looking this happy.
Get your hands on half-price itsu whenever you can with this simple hack. (Credit: The Manc Group)

We’ll be honest, we often end up getting double the amount we came for but who can blame us with a value-for-money offer like that? There’s also a 15% discount for students and NHS workers, by the way.

We know that might sound counter-intuitive when we’ve pitched this as a money-saving life hack, but it’s actually come in handy when grabbing not just a last-minute tea for ourselves but hungry flatmates too; plus we go home knowing we’ve done our little bit to help reduce waste.

Eating out can get super expensive, especially in Manchester city centre during a cost of living crisis, but let’s face it, we all fancy a treat sometimes and the thought of cooking is too tiring to even think about – that’s what makes stumbling upon little happy discoveries like these makes so great.

Now, we’re not going to pretend you’re the first people to know about this: the ‘secret’ is out and is gradually getting more and more popular, so you’ll almost certainly find a fair few people queuing up with the same idea come 8:30pm, but that’s kind of the idea. The more we spread the news, the less waste.

itsu Spinningfields is currently the only branch in Manchester (the first-ever Northern site to be opened by the brand back in 2016) but if you need some discounted food whilst you’re travelling around, you can find your nearest location HERE. Enjoy!

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

UK News

BBC confirm Gary Lineker will leave Match of the Day at the end of the season

Danny Jones Danny Jones Gary Lineker leaving Match of the Day at the end of the season

Following reports late on Monday evening, the BBC has now officially revealed Gary Lineker is leaving Match of the Day at the end of the current Premier League campaign.

Lineker, who has hosted Match of the Day (MotD) since 1999, is set to leave the long-standing British TV and sporting institution after 25 seasons but will still remain associated with the BBC on various other projects moving forward.

Confirming the news on Tuesday, 12 November, the network said that while his MotD tenure will conclude come May 2025, “The BBC and Gary Lineker have agreed in principle a contract extension through to the 2026 World Cup”.

The former footballer will also continue to host the MOTD Top Ten podcast and his The Rest is Football podcast on BBC Sounds alongside fellow co-presenters Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.

Lineker said: “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.”

The ex-Leicester, Everton, Barcelona and Spurs player was famously suspended from the show back in March 2023 after comments made about the previous Conservative government’s “dangerous” rhetoric.

Shearer and Ian Wright (‘Wrighty’ having also announced he will be leaving the show at the end of the season) both walked out in solidarity with their close friend and colleague before being reinstated after issuing an official apology.

Putting the brief separation aside, Lineker has enjoyed a long and prosperous relationship with the BBC for more than two and a half decades and when the title race does conclude at the end of next spring, he will have been one of the most recognisable faces in British football for 26 years.

Many have rightly pointed out that he served as the Des Lynam – the former MoTD host for 11 years – for multiple generations of young football fans.

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This past August marked Match of the Day‘s 60th anniversary, making it one of the longest-running programmes in British TV history, and to say that the household name and ever-entwined Walkers ambassador has made up nearly half of that is no mean feat.

Lineker has yet to issue a personal response via any channels by the official BBC statement, but viewers can expect to address the situation on the likes of The Rest is Football soon enough.

Thanks for the memories, Gary – especially for honouring your promise and hosting in those comically big white undies.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — BBC

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