During Easter 2017, Sarah, wife to Pat and mum to Ella and Jack, received the news she had breast cancer. She was 41. Her life changed that day. So did the lives of those who love her.

Chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and 25 sessions of radiotherapy consumed her days, her thoughts, her future and her ‘what ifs’.

But the hardest part? Telling the children. That conversation you know you have to have. Even though it’s going to break their hearts. And it did.

Luckily Sarah found an outlet, some peace and space in which to sit with her thoughts -through running marathons (five and counting) and at the same time, raising money for Breast Cancer Trials. She would run to chemo (5km), like no one ever.

She’s determined like that.

She got through it all and was in remission.

While having cancer is one of our worst nightmares, it also created an unbreakable bond between Sarah, Pat, Ella and Jack. As a family, they love hard. They appreciate the days, the memories, the tears and the laughs and they have learnt to never take for granted, our most valuable commodity. TIME.

During her routine follow-up scan just before Christmas last year (2021), Sarah received the news her cancer had progressed into her spine and liver. The bubble had burst.

It is now progressing with an unforgiving vengeance.

A roller coaster of emotion and procedures has seen Sarah on hormone blockers- unsuccessfully. Chemotherapy-which worked initially, is now unsuccessful. And once again- telling her children and husband that, this time, the cancer fight will be unrelenting.

Only this time the cancer is different. It is determined and drastic.

Sarah has begun her ‘process’. She is preparing.

She is milking each day, each hour, for all it offers.

She is writing letters and future birthday cards for her children. She is buying future wedding presents for Ella and Jack too- should they get married when their mum is gone. She is buying her future grandchildren presents and planning a ‘healing calendar’ for her family. 365 days of grieving and what they should do each day- to help them while they miss her.

Sarah has one last option now. A new drug- Enhertu - is available to her, but at a huge cost.

As it is not currently on the PBS (as Viagra is) and will cost $10400 every three weeks.

This treatment can give Sarah TIME.

Time to spend loving hard. Her children Ella and Jack will have a mum who loves them unconditionally -for longer.

Her husband Pat will have a wife- the love of his life- for longer.

Sarah can have time to see Jack turn 21 next year. She can see Ella live her dancing dream.

She can have Christmas with her mum.

The cost of this drug will be high - $180000 for a year. We believe that Sarah and her family should be using this time making memories and not having the cost of the drug treatment determining what memories they are able to make.

I’ve had the privilege of having Sarah as my personal training client, a friend, and as someone I admire for all her grit and determination. She deserves this chance. Her family deserves more precious memories. Because in the end, that’s all that matters.

If you can help by donating, know that Sarah will be forever grateful for her gift of time. She’s only 46.

Eliza x