Three years ago, my beautiful wife Louisa was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). It’s one of the hardest cancers to treat. Standard hospital programmes can only offer Lou more chemotherapy, an option that is becoming untenable.

Louisa has been through so much in her battle to survive this cruel disease. Yet despite the gruelling treatments she’s received over and over again, the cancer has spread to other parts of her body. Complications have almost killed her twice. But she’s still here, still fighting and – unbelievably – still smiling.

We have been seeking alternative treatments for Lou for several months now, desperate to give her more options than simply another round of chemo. We were overjoyed when she was offered a place on a clinical trial, only to be crushed when emergency surgery denied her the place.

Now, after lobbying hard, Louisa has indeed been accepted on that trial, which has brought us a glimmer of fresh hope. It is for a new immunotherapy drug and she has to travel to Barcelona weekly.

We’re lucky that this trial is free but we are unable to work while it is underway, so your kind donations are currently helping to cover all sorts of associated costs.

And our journey is far from over. We have to be prepared in case this treatment is ineffective, so our search for alternatives must continue as well.

Many wonderful people have asked if they can help us at this difficult time and now, you can. Some of the treatments we’re researching for Louisa are expensive and require multiple rounds. Even free treatment options carry associated costs.

We just don’t know when a good opportunity may come up or how much the bill will be.

This is why your generosity means so much. It opens the door to new possibilities that could help get Louisa’s cancer under control and improve her chances.

Thank you.

Nathan Coles