Ross Chatterton

I’m fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK

On behalf of myself and my family, we invite you to join us on a heartfelt journey this November as we step up against pancreatic cancer and walk 100+miles this month. Thankfully, Liz is here with us today and would like us all to help, try and prevent any more families having to go through what we are going through.

Together, we can make a real difference in the fight against this relentless disease. November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and we’re fundraising to help drive research breakthroughs that could save lives.

We all know about cancer, we have all been impacted in some way by cancer, you can’t ‘raise awareness’ about cancer in 2023 as it’s so vast. But Pancreatic Cancer specifically, now that’s a mean, sneaky SOAB and is the UK’s most deadly common cancer, with half of those diagnosed losing their life within 3 months of diagnosis. For many, it’s just days or weeks and for the ‘lucky’ group who make it past 3 months, it can be a living hell. And yet the vast majority of people don’t realise the true implications of the diagnosis and can’t name the symptoms. This particular brand of cancer DOES require awareness.

Every day in the UK, 24 people die from pancreatic cancer. This is unacceptable.

As a family we wish we’d have been more aware of it when my mother-in-law Liz, started to mention lower back pain and digestive issues back in 2022. We wish we knew more when she was brushed off by her GP multiple times. Prescribed yet more antacids, painkillers and reflux medications which had little to no impact, whilst she was in fact exhibiting classic symptoms of pancreatic cancer that a simple scan would have revealed. We figured she would be ok once the right medication was identified. If we had been more aware, she might have been diagnosed earlier and at least had the option of surgery, which in itself has no guarantees of success and comes with its own set of life changing side effects.

Too often people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer too late for an intervention. But even when it is found early, the prognosis is not promising. Too many people, including my amazing mother-in-law, are facing a battle to this complex and stubborn cancer.

The funds we raise as a family could support research into early detection and better treatments, and provide health professionals with the tools they need to spot patients’ symptoms earlier.

Thank you and please only donate what you can afford as there’s no donation too big or small towards this cause. Every penny has the power to make change possible.

It’s time to take on the challenge and do something wonderful to contribute towards the amazing work of Pancreatic UK. 

Much love

Ross & Family

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