This story is about Linda.

Linda is married to Derek, and is the mother of two young sons aged 12, and 9. Before Christmas Linda thought she was struggling with a bit of a persistent bug. She didn't think it was anything serious, she was just feeling more tired than usual.

However, unfortunately for the family, when Linda received the results of her blood test a more serious problem was indicated. Within two weeks further news followed that turned their world upside down.

Linda received a diagnosis telling her she has Pancreatic Cancer with lung and liver metastases. More devastating, is that she has been told by the NHS that it is untreatable: There is nothing they can do to help her.

I cannot imagine how you begin to come to terms with this. I ask myself how I would cope? The answer is: I have absolutely no idea! However, if possible I would hope I could approach it with the same incredibly positive outlook that Linda is trying to keep.

Always looking on the positive side has helped Linda develop her two businesses, working from home, while looking after her young family. She is now channelling this positive and determined outlook into investigating the opportunities of nutritional, and alternative therapies, in addition to seeking medical treatment that could help improve her life expectancy.

Thanks to the knowledge and contacts of her friend Sandie Gregory, Linda was put in touch with expert nutritionist John Jezewski Pheelgood Living Nutrition and has started a strict diet based on organic foods, no sugar and no dairy along with nutritional supplements. The aim is to provide a diet rich in alkaline foods, which will starve the cancer of energy and assist Linda's own immune system to fight the cancer. With help from his contacts she has been encouraged by people who have found very real benefits to following certain nutritional guidelines. Both Active Cancer Therapy Support (FB) or cancer-acts.com (website) and give useful information. Linda has also started having Oxygen Therapy at a clinic in Nottingham.

Another source of positive inspiration for Linda is that she has heard of many people, and been in contact with one of them, who after being cured of breast cancer with chemo and mastectomy, then discovered that it returned a few months later. This lady subsequently travelled to Mexico for treatment at CMN Hospital, where they specialise in Alternative Cancer Treatment. The lady's cancer is now significantly reduced, with the advice from her NHS consultant to “keep doing whatever you are". The cost of this treatment is significant at around £30,000. With return business class flights for her and her mother at £12,000.

It is well recorded that maintaining a positive outlook can help patients with serious illnesses. Linda is trying very hard to do this. Fortunately due to the NHS prognosis Linda is able to access her pension money to pay for her trip to Mexico which will be ASAP.

However, on her return she will need to maintain as many regular therapies as she can to give herself and her family the best outlook at a return to health. To this end any assistance with on going additional costs will help give them one less thing to think about. I have tried to set a realistic target but if we can do more to help Linda and her family, that would be even better.

Many of you will know Linda and her family. She and Derek have long been involved in many areas of the Fradley Village Community. If you are able, and would like to help give Linda and her family the chance to spend more time together, they would be very grateful.

Thank you for taking the time to read Linda's story.