Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

On 9 September, 2011, my Dad, Ken Ayres, was lost to pancreatic cancer. On 25 February 2012, less than six months later, my Mum, Pat, was also lost to the same disease.  Mum and Dad always helped others, fundraising for needy causes throughout their lives.  They were brave, kind and unselfish; loved and admired by friends, family and all who knew them. When bad things happen to good people you ask questions that have no answers. Why did this happen? How did this happen? What can I do? 

Needing to do something positive, I managed to raise nearly £500 for pancreatic cancer charities through selling things on ebay, because all the research I did into pancreatic cancer revealed how badly money was needed to research the causes, prevention and treatment.

Each year around 8,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It has the lowest survival rate of all cancers – just 3% of those diagnosed survive for five years. It is also the only cancer that has seen no improvement in this figure over the last 40 years. In 2011, the year Dad was taken, pancreatic cancer attracted just 1% of research funding from the major funding bodies.

More money is needed to pay for research into the causes, earlier diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Knowledge is power. Knowledge that could have saved my parents and the thousands lost every year to this horrific cancer. There have been huge leaps forward in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for other diseases so why not pancreatic cancer? This has to change. 

I’m overawed and inspired by the amazing amounts others have raised in honour of their loved ones.  I admire your courage because just setting up this page has been an emotional experience.  

This is the place I will let people know about the fundraising events I am planning, starting with Once Upon a Time, at the Hilton Hotel, Maidstone on Friday 18 July, 2014.  With a disco playing music from the 50s to the present day, a fab raffle, buffet and prizes, this is a chance to dance, dress up and have fun while raising money for Pancreatic Cancer UK.  If you would like to join us, it would be lovely to see you and you can book a ticket here:

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/once-upon-a-time-dance-the-night-away-tickets-11441559011

I'm hoping this event will kickstart my fundraising.  Even if you can't make it, any donation would be very gratefully received because it brings life-changing answers to defeating pancreatic cancer that one step closer. 

Thank you for listening.