It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our mother, Anita Desai, on 17th February 2025.

Anita was the face of our family. An extrovert like no other with the heart of a lion. She brought light to every world she touched. Since her diagnosis in 2019, she has had one hell of a journey frequently overcoming major obstacles thrown her way and continuously proving doctors wrong. She has embraced her diagnosis to make friends, boost awareness, raise money, and most importantly have fun.

Target Ovarian Cancer was a charity very close to her heart where she became a huge pillar of the community. She volunteered for every opportunity possible and built up a great support network as a result.

The four main symptoms of Ovarian Cancer are: persistent bloating, feeling full/loss of appetite, pelvic/abdominal pain and needing to wee more urgently or often than usual.

Target Ovarian Cancer work to improve early diagnosis, fund life-saving research and provide much-needed support to women with ovarian cancer. Their campaigns tackle the three biggest barriers to progress: late diagnosis, limited choice of treatments, and the isolation so often felt by those affected. They work with patients and their families and friends, politicians, policy makers, healthcare practitioners, the media and others in the field to deliver change.

Read her story here from 2023: https://targetovariancancer.org.uk/stories/anitas-story#:~:text=Before%20my%20friend%20died%20she,margin%20of%20growth%20in%20cancer.

Watch her participation in a short film on surgery post diagnosis here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG8sqqTXJn4

We’d like to sincerely thank you all for the love you’ve shown her not just during her illness but throughout her life and please know she could have not got this far without the unwavering support from her A-Team.

Unfortunately 2025 has been one step too far but we should all find comfort that she is finally at peace and passed with her boys right by her side until the very end. She was the best Mom and no doubt would have made the best Nana. She really was everyone’s Kick-Ass Anita. Forever in our hearts.

Love Sanjay, Ryan, Liam and Lola X

Please get in touch with Ryan Desai for details of Anita’s celebration of life.