<div><strong>To support Sarah with the costs of medical intervention for Rheumatoid Arthritis and associated chronic illness. To be the lifeline in raising funds for medical care she could not receive without it.</strong>
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<div><strong>Every donation big or small takes us towards reaching the target amount needed, and with every share, each time you engage, you help the campaign gain traction. With your help, we can achieve the funding goal so please donate and share the campaign and ask your network to share.</strong>
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<div><strong>2025 Campaign update	</strong>
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<div>For those familiar with this campaign, you will know of the ongoing and progressive medical challenges Sarah endures and the huge amounts of money required to meet the costs of healthcare in South Africa.
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<div>This campaign has continued for and will continue on much longer than I ever anticipated when it was created three years ago. Back then, there were very specific goals I wanted to achieve to ensure medical security and quality of life for Sarah and of course, in its infancy , raise funds for specific surgery.
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<div>Deterioration in Sarah’s health has meant in the last three years donations have been  literally lifesaving (I cannot emphasise this enough), enabling her to access medical help whilst fighting what seems like an endless onslaught of injury, symptoms and illness.
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<div>To be clear, this campaign continues with two goals in mind.
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<div>Firstly, to raise funds to create medical security for Sarah. The days of Sarah being able to get medical insurance are long gone, her illness so complex, no insurer will go near her. Therefore, we need to raise funds for the known treatment and care she needs daily, and furthermore, when additional medical intervention is required, there is money available to access that care. 
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<div>Daily costs include. 
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<div>•	A carer to come to her to assist her.
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<div>•	Medications &amp; dressings, the list is expansive and long.
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<div>•	Regular check-ups with the array of specialists doctors (or should be if the money was available)
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<div>Currently the costs of the above far outweigh income and Sarah can only access the bare bones of medical help she should be getting.
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<div>The cost for other medical interventions is more difficult to quantify. Whilst we cannot predict what is next, we can with confidence say that due to the deterioration of Sarah’s health there is little doubt over the additional medical costs that will arise over and above the known. 
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<div>Beyond Rheumatoid Arthritis which is chronic and systemic, and brings its own challenges of excruciating pain and illness, Sarah has Sjogren’s that impacts the health of her eyes and teeth, acute Osteoporosis which means she is vulnerable to breaking bones, a heart condition for which she needs medication and monitoring, a proneness to infection, Fibromyalgia, problems with her hearing, and most distressingly for Sarah at the moment, an undiagnosed issue that is causing body wide lumps/lesions that penetrate deeply and create nasty wounds that need specialist care and cleaning. These lesions are currently causing the need for immediate medical intervention, but any one of Sarah’s issues could lead to the need for immediate and additional medical care at unknown costs.
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<div>This brings me to the second fundraising goal. Sarah can no longer move herself around or walk. In an ideal world she would have lifting equipment, electric wheelchair, specialist shower unit and disability access in her home. She has none of this. Currently, her life is limited to a bed. This must change. A joystick-controlled mobility chair is essential. It would be such a catalyst for a better quality of life for her. The hope is that in time she would be able to build the strength enough to get in the chair herself but in the meantime, her partner or carer could help her in the chair, and this would give her the autonomy to do the simplest of things she cannot do like go outside or make a cup of tea. 
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<div>I remain ambitious with the knowledge that there are some amazingly generous people out there and although the aims for fundraising are high, they are do-able.
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<div>So far, since the campaign started, donations have reached £11’165 which is so awesome, reaching the target of £20’000 including the purchase of the electric mobility chair would make a spectacular difference to Sarah.
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<div>My love and gratitude as always. Cath x
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<div><strong>2024 Campaign update</strong>
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<div>As we pass the first quarter of the year we have finally got around to updating the page for 2024! 
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<div>Firstly, it seems fitting to celebrate what your donations have achieved since this campaign started. Your donations have been vital in navigating difficult times for Sarah on so many occasions. Whether this has been giving funds for emergency hospital visits for injury or illness, for planned hospital or medical visits for fundamental care, or contributing to the expense of various medications, we are so grateful for the gifts you have given.
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<div>For 2024, the goal remains the same. To enable Sarah’s long-term independence, quality of life and medical intervention whilst living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and its associated illnesses.
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<div>It seems right to tweak the name of the campaign for 2024, whilst challenges &amp; campaigning will continue, ‘Sarah’s medical campaign’ is less ambiguous about what we need to achieve.
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<div>2024 thus far has been tough, but, the big picture is still to raise funds for medical aide, as this is still so vital to ensure Sarah is safe &amp; covered when emergencies happen. 
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<div>And, raising enough to be able to purchase the mobility vehicle Sarah’s desperately needs. She is trapped in a body that is failing her. Her mobility is ever decreasing &amp; fragility increasing. The mobility vehicle would not only give her freedom, but keep her safe. 
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<div>As ever, whilst we strive for the ultimate goals, the challenges Sarah continues to face make to road to the finish line difficult, &amp; funds raised are often required to be diverted to immediate needs.
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<div>Nevertheless, we value every donation &amp; continue to strive towards improving Sarah’s situation so please continue to journey with us whilst we continue to strive to reach the funds needed for Sarah's needs.
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<div>Your support is met with heartfelt thanks. xx
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<div><a href="https://gofund.me/732368ee" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong><a href="https://gofund.me/732368ee" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://gofund.me/732368ee</a></strong></a>
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<div><strong>2023 Campaign update</strong>
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<div><em>‘The opportunity to enable Sarah’s long-term independence, quality of life and medical intervention whilst living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and its associated illnesses.’ </em>
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<div><a href="https://gofund.me/732368ee" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong><a href="https://gofund.me/732368ee" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://gofund.me/732368ee</a></strong></a>
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<div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/landmarkjourney" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/landmarkjourney" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.facebook.com/landmarkjourney</a></strong></a><strong>﻿</strong>
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<div>Every donation big or small takes us towards reaching the target amount needed, and with every share, each time you engage, you help the campaign gain traction. With your help, we can achieve the funding goal so please donate and share the campaign and ask your network to share.
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<div>This funding campaign began its journey 16 months ago and whilst we celebrate what we have achieved due to your collective kindness, 2023 focuses on what we still need to achieve to enable Sarah to have quality of life and remove the stress of burgeoning medical costs.
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<div>We started the campaign with clear objectives to help Sarah reach a quality of life, the most pressing being the removal of a metal pin from her leg which was causing significant pain. Thanks to the kind donations we received and the amazing achievements of those who undertook challenges, Sarah had successful surgery and now lives without the pin poking at her flesh and nerves. She has also had urgent periodontic care on her top teeth and has been able to meet some of the costs for unforeseen medical appointments due to the volatile nature of her illness.
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<div>Sarah still lives with increasing pain as her condition deteriorates and is without the safety of medical insurance. Her already diminished mobility continues to decrease as her illness progresses. Moreover, most recently Sarah fell and fractured her pelvis. She is convalescing at home, but this is more excruciating pain and additional immobility. Whilst family members have been able to cover costs thus far, further scans and physio costs are proving difficult to meet.
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<div>Therefore, looking forward into 2023, we initially strive to <strong>urgently raise funds to cover the cost of the pending CT scan and physio treatment post the most recent pelvic fracture.</strong> Once this urgency has passed, we will focus on raising the funds to meet the cost of 3 vital needs:
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<div><strong>Periodontist treatment on Sarah’s lower teeth.</strong> Whilst her top teeth were looked after last year, bottom teeth dental intervention is now critical.
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<div><strong>Medical insurance</strong>, paying the 1st year upfront to enable Sarah to access the full insurance policy.
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<div><strong>Mobility vehicle</strong>. Essential to keep Sarah as safe as possible from injuries and give her much-needed freedom.
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<div>For those who have been on the journey with us so far, you will know how difficult it is to foresee what medical interventions might come up in Sarah’s future and that whilst we focus on next targets the chance of Sarah needing funds for other medical interventions is high.
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<div>To be clear on funds we need to raise;
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<div>For further treatment for the pelvic fracture= £<strong>850</strong>. This will cover the cost of CT scan and physio sessions.
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<div>For medical aide = £<strong>3000</strong>. If we can pay the first year’s medical aide costs upfront, Sarah will have access to the full policy and when the time comes for further medical assistance, the insurers, for the most part, will cover it (with exemptions of course). Furthermore, most of the significant monthly expenditure that Sarah has for medication will be covered, meaning that this money, along with the support of family contributions can be used to pay the monthly insurance bill.
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<div>Periodontic treatment for lower teeth= £<strong>800</strong>. This cost will not be met by the insurers and will need to be funded independently.
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<div>Mobility vehicle. = £<strong>7000</strong>. When I mention Sarah’s lack of mobility, it is difficult to paint a clear picture of how incapacitated Sarah is. A mobility vehicle is essential for her to get about and is required so she can move about safely, removing any risk.
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<div>I know for most the sums of money needed are eye-wateringly high, especially when we have received so much generosity and kindness already, but we emphasise, many people donating what they can and sharing the campaign can make a huge difference in its success.
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<div>For those of you new to this campaign, to tell you more about Sarah herself beyond her chronic illness…Sarah’s life in South Africa is one where she follows her vocation of caring for cultural environmental work, as a traditional medicine person, counselling, healing, and mentoring people in the process of self-realisation. She has embraced and has been trained to work within traditional Zulu practices, having been taught by her Zulu elders and mentors. She has expanded this work to create a bridge for cross-cultural communication and awareness of the issues which connect us all.
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<div>Sarah and her partner Muvo are an integral part of their rural community. They are a valued source of help and advice locally, as well as helping people overseas. Sarah is a voluntary consultant for environmental bodies which value her traditional cultural knowledge and experience.
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<div>Sarah feels very passionately about protecting and preserving indigenous sacred sites and their environment, she works actively with communities to educate them, as well as confronting those who do not value the land or rights of indigenous communities. Most recently has been fiercely campaigning for the protection of the sacred site of Howick falls.
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<div>Please continue to journey with us whilst we take on the challenge of reaching the funds needed for Sarah's needs, your support is met with heartfelt thanks. xx
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Roger Vanoro

Anne Hodnett

Anonymous

Ryan Gamble

Glenda Dias

Petula Harwood

Alison Edwards

Patti Heaven

Carol Taylor

Claire F

Rossana Ubaldi

Geoffrey John Grice

Richard Grice

Mo Rose

Tania Doe

Sarah's medical campaign 2025

Sarah's medical campaign 2025

Still £8,170 to go. Help us build momentum.