In memory of our dear mother, Debbie Newing, who sadly passed away on the 28th May 2024, we thank you for taking the time to visit her donation page for Maggie’s.

Debbie had been battling cancer for years. She pushed far beyond what most doctors had ever expected, when many wrote her off on multiple occasions. Her resilience and value for every ounce of life was inspirational.

She could not have come this far without the support and care of Royal Marsden, UCLH, and UZ Gent. The teams were exceptional and believed in our mother all the way.

Whilst at the Royal Marsden she also discovered Maggie’s, a community for cancer patients to meet and receive all the help they could ask for.

She made many new friends there at their yoga classes and support groups, which brought her much strength, enjoyment and quality of life.

Debbie loved Maggie’s so much that she even did a fundraiser herself for their sponsored walk last October. We felt it was fitting to repost her fundraising memo that she wrote (see below), so you can see how much it meant to her.

To humbly extend her fundraising efforts, we invite you to donate to Maggie’s, one of her fondest charities, in her loving memory 🕊️❤️

-Athena, Charlie & Jamie (June 2024)

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Fundraising memo for Maggie’s written by Debbie in September 2023:

“I was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in September 2018 at UCLH. After an intense round of chemotherapy and radiotherapy I was able to have an operation to remove the tumour along with my oesophagus. The operation was successful and I was told the cancer had gone in February 2019.

After a long recovery and slow return to my teaching job, I was just about back to myself by Autumn 2020. Then I became very ill and had to be rushed back to UCLH where they discovered some cancer cells had been missed and had gone to my peritoneum, the lining of my small abdomen - Peritoneal Disease - which is a life-threatening condition. I was given just 6 months left to live.

After many rounds of different types of chemotherapy, a near death experience in February 2021, a resective surgery in 2022, and the lucky discovery of a new innovation called PIPAC - an operation which targets cancer cells by laparoscopy so not as invasive as IV chemotherapy, I'm still here today. ☺️

It's been a tough journey, one which will never be over for me. My children have pulled me through, especially my son Jamie who tirelessly searched the internet for trials I could access (he found the PIPAC operation in Belgium). I moved to the Royal Marsden for my oncology, I now have an amazing oncologist who is so innovative - he guides me through the possible lines of treatment I could have. This is where I also discovered Maggies who give cancer patients the support they need when facing the quagmire of medical jargon.

I've met so many lovely people at Maggies, as soon as I step through the door it feels like home. I've been able to access exercise classes, counselling, and much needed workshops and courses for everyone affected by cancer. I'm about to start a new course to help me come to terms with living with cancer, I'm excited about meeting people in the same situation as me.

They've given me the confidence to pick up the pieces when I've been feeling so low.

I hope you can help me show them how grateful I am by donating on my page. Thank you Maggies 🙏

And thank you for reading my story 🙏🥰”

-Debbie (September 2023)