Hi, my name is Brigid and I am

fundraising for my dear friend Sarah.

I met Sarah twenty years ago when her son went to school with Finn and they travelled to Truro on the train together. Sarah is the same as any of us - a loving daughter and mum. She has been an airline stewardess and when she was living in Cornwall she also fostered children for the County.

A number of years ago she was diagnosed with Sphincter of Oddi dysfunctions and was basically told there was nothing that could be done. However, she and her partner moved to Spain where she was able to have a Whipple Procedure, which basically saved her life

The Whipple procedure is an operation to treat tumors and other conditions in the pancreas, small intestine and bile ducts. It involves removing the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile duct.

The Whipple procedure is also called a pancreaticoduodenectomy. It's often used to treat pancreatic cancer that hasn't spread beyond the pancreas.

Although alive, Sarah lives in constant pain, cannot walk very far and cannot stand or sit for long. Her health is not good at all.

Sarah had to come back to the UK. Her sickness benefit had been stopped in Spain and her partner sadly died very suddenly of cancer in April. She has one son in Truro and another in Bristol but she is unable to stay with them. Her mother has dementia and is in a care home in Cornwall

Sarah and her beloved dog Daisy are homeless and she has no money at all to her name. They were renting in Spain and she had to sell most of her possessions to get back home. The Council did eventually agree to pay for accommodation at The Travelodge. She has been there since June. She is receiving the basic amount of Universal credit - just £400 per month. From that she has to pay her phone contract, WiFi £25 per fortnight (essential when all communication is via emails etc), storage £145 per month for the small amount of property she came home with and £25 per week to the council for sundries!!! She has now had to take out a very small loan to cover the storage cost this month. So that means she has to pay back £15 per month!! She is basically left with £50 a week for food for her and Daisy and everything else she might need.

Sarah has also been diagnosed with COPD. Every time she needs to go the doctor - £10 taxi fee, to get shopping - £10 taxi fee, to get prescription £10 taxi fee.

She is basically living off cornflakes and milk

She does not use non prescribed drugs and she does not drink, but she is surrounded by people who do. She lives in fear, is isolated and very lonely. She is very depressed and her dear Daisy dog is the only thing keeping her going.

She is currently in Camborne and I visit her every Saturday to do what I can.

She does have a claim in for PIP and for extra universal credit but has no idea if she is entitled to it or when it might come

She is 60 years old. This could actually happen to any of us.

She has been treated so badly by the Council (her support worker has never visited her). The only help she has really received is from the charity St Petrocs. She is tarred by the same brush as those who are drug users and alcoholics. And when I left her today there were a group of crack addicts in the rear car park so she has to keep her curtains shut because they can look straight in her window.

Sarah just need a little financial back up to help her through the hardest of times and any help would be appreciated more than you would know

14/10/25 - Sarah is so thankful for those who have donated already and I am so appreciative too!! Xx

18/10/25 - I have seen Sarah today and we had a little trip to the beach. But she is in so much pain and hasn’t slept that she really couldn’t enjoy the day. However, at least the money raised so far allowed her to buy a little more food to enjoy (well, cornflakes, milk and grapes!) she says thank you to those who have donated!

20/11/25. Sarah is still in the Travelodge and nothing has yet changed. Universal Credit are waiting for Serco to do a medical assessment. It is a phone appt. Sarah has been waiting for 5 months - still no appt forthcoming!! Still waiting to hear about PIP. She still has less than £40 to survive each week. For food and necessary taxis. She would not have survived without the help she has had so far from my family and friends and she is incredibly thankful for that!

She still has not even met the Housing officer who is apparently still “investigating “

Sarah is dreading Christmas. This time last year, she was making plans with her partner in Spain. How life can knock the world from under your feet!!

The 21st November is Sarah’s 61st birthday. Please can you help cheer her birthday with a donation ❤️