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Support for Sarah

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Family and friends of Sarah Ratcliffe are organising this fundraising page on her behalf. As you may be aware Sarah is battling cancer for the third time.

Sarah is a motivated, energetic and passionate 42-year-old. She is a Mum (to 16-year-old Molly, 24-year-old stepdaughter Chelsea, the dogs and cats) and a young Grandma (to Hazel the dog), She is also a wife, sister, aunt, and a dear friend (we could go on)

Sarah is an enthusiastic self-employed hair stylist running her small salon based in Hope, North Wales. Sarah enjoys exercise - hiking, running, gym and yoga to name a few. Other interest includes cold-water therapy, saunas and mindfulness. These are things Sarah has named herself but to friends and clients she is a counsellor, a stylist, a dietician and PT she will do anything for anyone.

Sarah first had cancer aged 28, when Molly was a baby, and underwent chemo radiation in which she had a severe reaction to treatment which left her in a critical condition leaving a young family devastated. Sarah fought and survived but was left with long term side effects. Since then, Sarah has been on a health and well-being journey to educate herself and others on how best to manage these side effects. She has embarked on a journey to help herself and others who battle not only the physical effects of living with cancer but also mentally.

Late last year, after Sarah recognised the symptoms and after seeking medical advice Sarah received the devastating news when they found a tumour in her bowel. After a difficult operation and agonising recovery, she was given the all clear. Sarah worked hard to overcome this.

Tragically after only a short time cancer free we received more bad news. During a routine colposcopy in January 2024 following her recent cancer Sarah was diagnosed, with no symptoms, Stage 2b cervical cancer. Sarah was referred to Christie's in Manchester as unfortunately due to her previous treatment in her late 20s they have had to devise a specialist plan for her. To say she's had a rollercoaster journey is an understatement especially with her history. The current plan is 7 weeks of chemotherapy starting on the 18th of April with a best outcome of surgery at the end of this however full prognosis is not yet known and Sarah along with her family and friends by her side have a long journey ahead.

Sarah recognises that we have a brilliant NHS service which continue to support her and will be having conventional treatment as above. However, Sarah will alongside this needs complementary and alternative therapy, for example, oxygen therapy, vitamin C drip, nutritional therapist for a more holistic approach due to having so much exposure to treatment and radiation over the years.

Sarah has sought financial advice but there is no support available. This page has been set up by family and friends to help with financial support towards private treatment costs on the journey she is about to embark on to give Sarah the optimal chance of survival and returning to 'normal' life in the future although we do not yet know what the future 'normal life' looks like. Also to support for accommodation costs to stay in Manchester during treatment at Christie's as there is no treatment available locally.

Both Sarah and her husband Mark are self-employed and both will be unable to work for some time, Molly will be taking her GCSE exams whilst Sarah will be undertaking treatment at Christie's and Chelsea works hard as a carer. We booked them a camper van holiday for 3 nights prior to treatment for some quality family time, normality and relaxation but Storm Kathleen arrived, they spent 2 nights sleeping in the shower block and an emergency hotel for the third night! We need to give the amazing Ratcliffe family some support and Sarah whose always there for everyone a bit of support at this difficult time.

If you want to set up your own challenge whether it be a run, walk, swim, sponsored cold shower/ dip everyday for a month and get family and friends to sponsor you for this page then we know Sarah will be fully in support of this. We've all gone out of our comfort zones for Sarah's mad fundraising ideas for charity in the past.

This is not only to support Sarah through her treatment but to allow Sarah to continue to educate herself to help and support others who live with cancer.

Sarah is sharing her journey and offering her support to others on her facebook page Life is a gift www.facebook.com/life.is.a.gift.2023. Thank you all in advance for your support and kindness.
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    Organizer

    Ellie Lloyd
    Organizer
    Wales

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