The CALM Trust is a Swindon Charity close to our hearts that we have tried to support since they supported us in 2007.

They continue to support other families and children diagnosed with cancer in Swindon and the surrounding areas. CALM rely on local support and donations.

As a family CALM continues to involve us in all their events because the family of CALM past and present is what keeps it going.

Below is our story, but there are many others that continue to need all our support.

On the 24th December 2007 our lives were

turned upside down in the worst way possible, my beautiful 5 year old daughter
Zara was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Zara had become ill at
the beginning of December and lost over a stone in that short space of time,
she couldn’t  stand the day light, had constant headaches and cried out in
pain from her eyes, she slept constantly and could hardly walk, but doctors at
our surgery and the GWH walk in clinic told me over and over it was a virus and
it wasn’t until I took her in desperation to the fourth gp at our surgery they
agreed I could take her for a blood test. All I kept thinking was I wanted her
well for Christmas, Little did I know.................

I spent Christmas 2007 in the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford
with Zara where she underwent lumbar punctures and started her two and a half
years of chemotherapy treatment, throughout her treatment Zara never complained
and was so brave. I remember washing her beautiful long hair and clumps of it coming
out in my hands and trying so hard not to let her see, she just turned to me
and said “it’s ok mummy, don’t be sad it will grow back”, she was strong and
took everything in her stride. Throughout this awful unimaginable journey
we were supported by CALM, they supported and included us all in meeting other
families that were going through or had come out the other side of the
treatment, this helped me as Zara’s mum to stay strong and Zara made some
wonderful friends and has some lovely memories of CALM events.

We as a family have come out the other side, but there are many more families that would benefit from your support.

Alison & Rob xx