I'm fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

We are Pancreatic Cancer UK.

We go above and beyond for everyone affected by this disease. Right now, half of people with pancreatic cancer die within three months of diagnosis. Families are left with only hope to hold onto. They need more. So, we do more.

We bring more breakthroughs through research, more change through campaigning, and more support through our expert nurses. We make more noise because people have gone unheard. We are relentless because the disease is ruthless. We care more because people feel forgotten.

I would like to raise £710 to help fund 5 hours of research into pancreatic cancer. It’s dubbed the silent killer because usually by the time it’s found, it’s too late to treat. Developing a simple test for pancreatic cancer will mean earlier detection, more lives saved, and more time for people like my mum. Funding 5 hours of research could be what changes lives for the better.

My mum was the bravest person I knew. She had a beautiful personality and always made me feel comforted and happy. Her love for those around her was so huge you could see it in everything she did, and she filled life with positivity for everyone who was lucky enough to have met her. She always made me smile when I was having a bad day, and she gave the best hugs whenever I needed them. 

I have some incredible memories with mum, like the time we set out an air mattress on our patio and watched the shooting stars in the middle of the night, or the time when we went horse riding along the beach on holiday. 

One of my favourite memories with mum is being at the lido with her, whether it was for a specific event, like the sunrise swims that we’ve been to since I was 8, or the triathlon that she took part in, or just to splash around in the pool and get chips afterwards with some friends. We always had the season tickets, and we spent so many hours in the pool and cafe, it really became our happy place. 

When mum passed away last December, it was the most difficult time of my life. My dad and I will never forget the amazing memories we had with mum, and the joy that she brings to a room. She was loved by so many people and will always be missed. To keep her spirit at the lido, some of her friends arranged for a memorial plaque to be placed in the path leading into the lido, as a small way to keep her with us and remember her every time we go for a swim. To honour her memory, her courage and her determination to fight the cancer with so much force, I have decided to commit to a whole season of cold water swimming at the lido, something mum always wanted to try. I am attempting to swim in the water every week, all through the winter, where temperatures will get down to 1 degree, to try and raise money for an incredibly important cause that is very close to my heart. 

Pancreatic cancer is a horrible, fierce disease which my mum had to fight for nearly three years of her life. It comes silently and hurts those we love and are closest to. Over 10,000 British people will lose their lives to pancreatic cancer this year. It’s the 5th biggest cause of death in the UK, and one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, with one of the lowest survival rates. 

Please join me in remembering my mum, and support my challenge with a donation to pancreatic cancer UK. Every donation will help provide more support and hope to the families fighting this terrible disease, and every penny raised will give testament to mum, her life and her legacy.

Thank you for all your support, it means so much to me and my dad.