@ 21:49 on 14th June 2017 our lives changed forever, it was the night when our mum, Mandy as most of you knew her took her final few breaths and peacefully passed away in Myton Hospice, it was a strange night as in it wasn't too warm nor to cold, there wasn't any breeze and it was also not at all stuffy... it was just right if that makes sense, Yet dani and I knew it wouldn't be right not for a very long time....

Mums final stages of her courageous journey over the last 9 months ended more suddenly than expected, not as in we didn't know what was coming but as in I don't think you truly believe what is going to happen until it actually does.

Most of you knew mum was diagnosed with lung cancer in september of 2016 after she took ill whilst on holiday in Spain. Mum was given 48 hours to live and was told she would not likely be fit enough to fly home and be able to die back at home with her family by her side. What you may not know is that mum was able to defy virtually all odds over the next 9 months and get the all clear for her lung cancer following the aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy her consultant provided. Mum didn't actually die from lung cancer she died from a type of secondary cancer which was identified in her brain in the early part of 2017 yet mum was still fighting and refused to give up.

Two weeks before mums condition took a drastic turn she was told "Mandy i am sorry to tell you this but the cancer has now spread to your spine" what did mum do... did she cry? did she curl up into a ball and give up? neither she said "Doctor whats the plan, give me the lot shall we start treatment again today" I honestly think if it wasn't for our mums NEVER GIVE UP attitude then Kate mums consultant would have stopped the treatments sooner, so that same afternoon mum was fitted for another radiotherapy mask and within 24 hours had started the "zap zone" as mum called it - AKA radiotherapy.

It had to stop sometime, It had to come to an end everything does and whilst its very sad and at times hard to breathe and get on with the day there will be other days when it is much easier and there will be days when we don't feel the empty space pulling at our hearts.

We genuinely believe that without you mum we would not have got through this, mum you saved us all and showed us that whatever life throws at you grab it with both hands and take control. if you are able to read this now mum we want you to know that we have set up this just giving page in order to give back some of the courage and passion that you had in abundance and raise some money for the charities and people who helped us along the way.

We want to raise 5k this is 1k for each night Myton Hospice cared for you it is approximately what it costs to fund the hospice which does not get full NHS funding, it survives mostly on donations such as this.

We also realised that whilst there are numerous departments, charities and people who can support the families who are trying to care for a loved one that there is virtually NO communication between these teams and something as simple as a "go to booklet" would make such a difference - i mean come on don't we all have enough to worry about? its the simple things that can take the pressure off, trust me :)

Therefore we would like to raise some funds over and above the target where possible to set up a "mandy's memory" support pack to help others whether its a pack which has a toothbrush and toothpaste for when you are sleeping on the floor of a hospital refusing to leave your mum/dad/sister/brother/nan or grandad at there time of need or whether its a leaflet on what number to call if you need help with disability equipment or even counselling.... whatever your financial/physical or emotional need is.. its all in one place and simple.

So this message is to you now, our friends and family whom all have rallied around us so much over the last few months we Thank you and ask that if you would like to share this page for us then that would be brilliant and if you wish to raise any funds in memory of our mum Mandy we would be deeply honoured, i knew a few of you have already started raising funds/have plans and you are merely waiting on this page (sorry it took so long we needed me time to be able to write this)

Dani & I will be holding numerous fund raising events, all in the planning (very exciting i will add) over the next 12 mont

hs so watch this space.

lOVE TO YOU ALL & THANK YOU

Cher & Dani & Mandy

xxx