21st July 2015, me and my family lost someone irreplaceable, my mum after a long 5 year battle with cancer. It began with my mum being diagnosed with breast cancer, which was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy when I was 11 and my sister Lily, was 6 but soon after returned, it then spread to her lymph-anodes and she underwent another course of treatment, last year she began getting extremely bad headaches, pain so bad she could barely move, she was then taken into the Royal Marsden Hospital, in which all her treatment was given, but instead of the Chelsea site she was taken to the Surrey site, here she was told her cancer had spread to the fluid around her brain and it was causing pressure to her brain and this was the cause of her pain. She then had radio therapy in hope that this would kill off as many cancerous cells as possible, this did not work. She then went on a tablet form of chemotherapy which also did not work. She came home for a while but was bed ridden, on the 23rd of June 2015 it was my school prom, my mum had practically lost use of her legs from the weakness of her treatment yet she still managed to come out in a wheelchair to see me off to prom. Only a few weeks later she was admitted back to hospital and told the devastating news that the hospital could no longer do anything to help her, it broke her heart, all throughout her battle she never gave up hope once, she never complained or took it out on anyone so the news that not even she could fight it off any more broke her. She was then transferred over to Saint Francis Hospice where she was taken care of 24/7, better than we could have cared for her at home. Despite knowing she was dying she was still smiling, each day she got worse, but I still cherish some happy memories from there. Like the time her friends came to visit and we played her favourite music loud and although at this point she could no longer use her legs and her arms she still was singing along as loud as she could. Sadly, this didn't last forever and we had to say goodbye. Breast Cancer Now was a charity that meant a lot to my mum and allowed her to meet other women just like her and stand up for what she believed in, even whilst undergoing treatment by supporting their online petitions. I believe Breast Cancer Now played a part in giving my mum the will power to fight and not let breast cancer win as she knew she was not alone and there was other women just like her. In order to show my gratitude I would like to raise as much money as possible to give to the charity to put towards their projects in a bid to 'find a cure for breast cancer by 2050' so that no other children can lose their parents, no husband can lose their wife, no family can be left with a hole due to breast cancer anymore. We plan to have multiple fundraiser events such as an Easter Egg Hunt, a Colour Run Marathon, a Sweet Shop at school sports days and a Strictly Come Dancing event with staff. Me and my group of friends are currently in sixth form studying our A-levels and we have to plan these fundraiser events around our study time but we still aim to raise £1000 or more!! 

Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope you will support us!

Sophie x