This is what I wrote back in 2015 when the 'Cancer Is Pants' Campaign began….
Hi! I'm Ella and I'm 18 years old and I live in Brighton, UK. This is me and my family. You may be wondering why we've all got pants on our heads.....
Well, Let me explain.....
I'm on my gap year at the moment. In January 2015 I said goodbye to my family to go on a big adventure to Peru. But after being there for only 3 weeks I got a phone call that has changed everything. I got on the first flight I could to come home and help my Mum and my family.
Now I need YOUR help!
Our Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 39. In January this year we found out that it had returned after nearly 5 years. It is now advanced, stage 4 breast cancer which has spread to her liver. She is having chemotherapy at the moment but we know that this is only a short term measure and that there is so much more we could be doing to help her fight this horrible disease.
Mum has been doing hours and hours of research on alternative therapies to complement and enhance the conventional treatments offered in the UK, as well as different cancer treatments that are available in other countries. The trouble is these all cost A LOT of money.
I have 3 younger brothers Tom (age 16), William (age 14) and Ned (age 11). We love our Mum and we need her here as long as possible. PLEASE help us by making a DONATION and by spreading the word to your friends and family.
We are planning all sorts of FUND RAISING activities- please join in and help us raise the money- because one thing we all know for sure is that
#cancerispants!!!!!
By Autumn 2015:
We managed to raise beyond our target of £50,000 so that Mum could go to Germany for treatment after her Chemotherapy ended. We have raised over £75,000. This is amazing but we need to keep going. We need to be ahead of the game and have enough money to make sure that we are ready for the next hurdle. We hope the treatment she is having in Germany keeps her going for a long time, but we need to be prepared and that means keeping up the fundraising so we can get her the best care if and when she needs it. She is doing well at the moment but it is early days. The fundraising continues!
Throughout 2016:
Mum has been keeping a detailed BLOG about her research and her treatment. This tells you how we have spent the money that has been raised so far by CANCER IS PANTS.
THANK YOU so much for anything you can give, from The Howes family
- Louise & Rupert, Ella, Tom, William and Ned
