Very few people would be able to say they had commanded a Royal Navy ship, met Michelle Obama and presented a television weather forecast.
But Laura Nuttall from Barrowford in Lancashire did not let a terminal cancer diagnosis stop her from ticking off an impressive bucket list before her death on Monday at the age of 23.
Diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, Nuttall said she had chosen “to do something about it and stay positive” when she was given only 12 months to live in 2018.
“What sort of legacy will I leave if I just focus on myself and not others?” Nuttall said in 2021 while accepting an award for her charity work. “The day I was diagnosed with brain cancer, I just thought: ‘I’ve got two options … I could say all right, that’s fine, I’m going to sit here and die, or am I going to do something about it and stay positive?’ – and that is what I chose to do.”
She was in her first university term at King’s College London in 2018 when, after a routine eye test, she received a diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, which is incredibly rare in young women. Further tests found she had eight tumours and she was given just a year to live.
Nuttall went through several rounds of treatment, including invasive brain surgeries, to extend her life and she was able to finish her university degree and graduate with a 2:1 in politics, philosophy and economics.
In 2021, Peter Kay performed two sold-out Q&A sessions at the 3,500-capacity Manchester Apollo, called Doing it for Laura, to raise money for her treatment.
The money allowed Nuttall to travel to Germany for specialist treatment that was unavailable in the UK. She had previously had extensive cancer treatment including surgery to remove a tumour, only for it to come back days later.
She described her bucket list as “never ending, because when it ends, I end”.
Her mother, Nicola Nuttall, paid tribute to her daughter, writing that Laura had died in the early hours of Monday morning. She added: “She was fierce and tenacious to the end and it was truly the honour of my life to be her mum.
“We are devastated at the thought of life without our girl, she was a force of nature.”
I'm heartbroken to share the news that we lost our beautiful Laura in the early hours of this morning.
— shitscaredmum (@shitscaredmum) May 22, 2023
She was fierce & tenacious to the end & it was truly the honour of my life to be her mum.
We are devastated at the thought of life without our girl, she was a force of nature💔 pic.twitter.com/8nQvIZZ4zh
Brain Tumour Research, a charity Nuttall had fundraised for, said it was “deeply saddened” at the news as “yet another brave soul lost to this devastating disease”.
“Along with her family [Laura] did so much to raise awareness of this disease, and our thoughts are with her family at this time.”
Fewer than 5% of people with Nuttall’s condition survive longer than five years. The life expectancy without treatment is three months.
Laura’s completed bucket list
Went fishing with Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer (she caught a pike, they caught nothing).
Graduated with a 2:1 in politics, philosophy and economics from Manchester University.
Drove a monster truck, a bus, a 650-tonne crane, a tractor, a digger and a tank (after her driving licence was revoked due to seizures).
Met Michelle Obama.
Had a pub lunch with Peter Kay and danced on stage with him in front of 10,000 people.
Had a song dedicated by Johnny Marr.
Drove a London Underground tube train.
Completed a skydive.
Presented the weather on the BBC (“I thought it would be quite easy, but it’s really not”).
Commanded a Royal Navy warship.
Spent a day with police tackling a simulated riot.
Travelled to the US.
Went on safari in South Africa.
Watched the Women’s Euro final at Wembley and received a video message from the England captain, Leah Williamson.
Went sailing around the west coast of Scotland with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.
Visited the Uncle Joes’s Mint Balls factory in Wigan and also the Heinz factory, receiving tins with her name on.
Had a video chat with Malala Yousafzai.
Visited the Royal Mint and pressed a 50p coin.
Had tea at the Ritz with newscaster Sophie Raworth.
Ran a marathon.
