School's music room tribute to teacher who died

A primary school has paid tribute to an "inspirational" teacher, who died of secondary breast cancer at the age of just 46.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary in Reddish, Stockport, has renamed its music room after Kate Rackham, who died last summer.

Her husband Mark said it was "just the sort of thing she would have loved".

Ms Rackham shared updates on social media about her condition and helped set up the Fighting to be Heard foundation to raise awareness of the disease.

Kate Rackham was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 39, which later spread to other areas of her body.

She was a teacher at St Joseph's for three years and the head teacher Clare Baron said the children loved her because she was "kind of really cool".

"She was into her music, she was into her gigs and she always wore cool clothes, she said.

"The children really liked her and she had a big impact across the whole school".

Mr Rackham was at the school with their daughters to see the naming of the new music room, the Mrs Rackham Room.

One of her daughters said her mum would "definitely have really liked a room dedicated to her" and the other added: "I think its really good for the school to acknowledge my mum."

The family also received a cheque for £2095, which was raised by children at the school for the Fighting To Be Heard foundation.

Mr Rackham said his wife would have been so pleased.

"That's why I was keen to come along to the school to thank the children and the teachers who've been involved," he added.

Kate Rackham left her family instructions to share a message on X urging her 17,000 followers "not to cry for me" after she died on 13 June 2024.

The Fighting To Be Heard foundation, set up in 2021 by 20 women including Ms Rackham, aims to give a voice to those with the condition.

A charity club night called Listen Up Manchester is due to take place on Saturday 25 January to raise money for the secondary breast cancer foundation.