Hearts & Hope 4 Helen

Having bravely shared her journey to raise awareness for others, my sisters story is already known to many friends, family and social media followers, with first a thyroid cancer diagnosis aged just 32 shortly after the birth of her first daughter Lily in 2014, and then breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy with her twin daughters Robyn and Scarlett in 2015. As 5 years of treatment concluded in December 2020 and on the belief there was a low risk of the cancer returning, Helen, her husband Phil and our whole family looked onwards, admittedly with a little trepidation, to a cancer free future. Devastatingly, just days before Christmas 2021, following an xray for chest pain being treated as an infection, Helen received the horrendous news that breast cancer has been detected in her bones. This is known as 'metastatic' or 'secondary' cancer, for which there is treatment but no cure.

Helen herself is setting the example to everyone around her of how to steer a path through the unknown future she now faces; with strength, courage, determination, and a hint of humour, she is living each day as it comes, riding out the ups and downs, and prioritising over anything else being the most loving and gentle mum to her 3 beautiful daughters. She is unbelievable, and as the eldest sibling, I have no shame in admitting I look up to my little sister.

As a family, we have been completely overwhelmed with the hundreds of messages, offers of support, and people expressing a desire that they'd like "to do something". Spurred on by this outpouring of kindness, a group of family and friends have decided to turn these words into action. We have hope that with treatment, and her sheer spirit, Helen has a long life ahead of her. We will be raising funds to give her and her family some financial freedom to live this life well, and to support the charity METUP UK, the only Metastastic Breast Cancer patient advocacy group in the UK. Here we share where funds will make a difference;

There are clinical trials ongoing both in the UK and abroad that we are following that can potentially extend and improve the lives of secondary breast cancer patients, an example being 'ERSO' for which many of you have already signed the petition we shared campaigning for the progression of this treatment. There are also private treatment options that are not offered by the NHS. If applicable trials or treatment became available to Helen, it is advantageous to be financially prepared for the costs these options incur, including the cost of treatment itself, and travel and accommodation.

Treatment can be debilitating, both in terms of side effects, and having a busy calendar of appointments and check ups - all physically and mentally draining. We'd like Helen and her family to have the opportunity to be spontaneous, and take days out together when she feels well between treatments and hospital trips, to enjoy a little respite, and special time together as a family.

As serving RAF personnel Helen, her husband Phil and their girls reside in married quarters. Essentially this is rented, temporary, accommodation which limits what they can decorate or alter to be make it feel 'homely'. Helen and Phil, hope to buy a house and funds could contribute towards making this a special, comfortable family home for them and their girls.

Since Helen's diagnosis she has discovered some specific support groups for people with secondary cancer on Facebook and Instagram, and these have proven to be an understanding, invaluable, sometimes uplifting, and informative network made up of people in similar situations. She has also discovered 'METUP UK', one of only a handful of charities which exists specifically for secondary breast cancer. Never one to take things laying down, Helen has already signed up to be a METUP UK volunteer to help with research and campaigning. METUP UK have recieved some recent press coverage as they were involved in the process of getting a new drug approved for treatment of secondary breast cancer in Scotland. Yes, in Scotland, not the entire UK, and herein lies an example of the disparity of treatment options many cancer patients are faced with!

We will be participating in various challenges, and arranging our own fundraising events - and we hope some of you will join in!

25% of all the money we raise will be donated to METUP UK to help them continue supporting the women and men affected by this devastating disease.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for whatever support you can give