Help Support Kayleigh’s Fight Against Lymphoma

Hi, my Name is Liz and I’ve started this fundraiser to help raise funds for our “holiday sister” Kayleigh

We first met the Winters through our children. My son Zach and Jem’z daughter Sophie met at their specialist school setting and quickly became best friends. Through them, our families got to know each other, and Kayleigh soon became a big part of our lives too. My younger boys even nicknamed her their “holiday sister”

While many of us have been able to relax and make memories this summer, the Winter family have been fighting one of the toughest battles imaginable. Their daughter Kayleigh just 22 has been diagnosed with lymphoma cancer, and her whole life has been turned upside down.

It all started with a cough and just not feeling great. Within weeks, Kayleigh went from being a full-time student at university to hearing the devastating words that she had cancer. Since then she’s faced endless tests, biopsies and hospital stays, and is now in the middle of gruelling chemotherapy, with radiotherapy also likely. Treatment like this completely drains the body it causes exhaustion, weakness, hair loss, sickness and leaves her vulnerable to infections. Instead of enjoying her twenties and building her future, Kayleigh’s whole life has been put on hold. She’s had to defer university for at least a year and step away from everything she’s worked so hard for.

Lymphoma is a blood cancer that starts in the lymphatic system the part of the body that usually fights infection. Instead, the abnormal cells spread and weaken the immune system, which is why Kayleigh has been so unwell and why treatment is so intense.

But what makes Kayleigh truly incredible is her strength of spirit. Even being as poorly as she is, she’s still joined us on family days out, always smiling, always making light of her future. Her courage and fight are nothing short of amazing, and she continues to inspire everyone around her with her positivity and determination.

This hasn’t just affected Kayleigh, it’s changed life for the whole Winter family. Jem’z is now her full-time carer and hasn’t left her side, and sisters Aimee, Maisie and Sophie are doing their best to stay strong. The urgency of treatment also meant there was no time to explore fertility preservation, which may affect Kayleigh’s dream of becoming a mum one day.

We’ve set up this fundraiser to try and ease some of the pressure on them. Donations will help with travel costs to hospital, day-to-day living while Jem’z cares for Kayleigh full time, support for the year she’s lost at uni, and unexpected costs during recovery. It will also go towards OT equipment to help her at home, and, when she’s well enough, a much-needed family trip to Centre Parcs Kayleigh’s fav place! Funds may also support future fertility treatment if she needs it in the future!

If by some miracle not all the money is needed, every penny left over will be donated to a lymphoma or young person’s cancer charity.

The Winters are one of those families who bring so much love and laughter to everyone around them. Now it’s our turn to be there for them. Any donation, no matter how small, will make a difference, and even just sharing this page will help. Let’s surround Kayleigh and her family with support, take away some of the stress, and give them the chance to focus on what matters most her recovery