What you need to know:

40 years ago, few children diagnosed with leukaemia survived; today the survival rate is 80%.  40 years ago, 46% of women diagnosed with breast cancer survived; today the survival rate is 80%.  40 years ago, 3% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survived...

...the survival rate is still 3%.

Over 6,600 people die of pancreatic cancer every year.  There is no way of diagnosing the disease early on, the treatment is limited and there is no cure.

This page is in honour of my wonderful mum and, indeed, everybody affected by pancreatic cancer.  Patients, family, friends.  My mum, Wendy, was aged just 50 when she was given 6 months to live in October 2007.  She worked hard from the age of 15, raised three children and has never had a bad word to say about anybody.  She is thankfully still alive but her quality of life is swiftly deteriorating and her illness and the complications it have caused are causing more stress and pain for so many people than any of us ever thought possible.

Initially this page is simply for people who want to donate to the PCRF generally but, throughout the next year, I will be trying to raise as much money for this cause in hope that, in generations to come, more can be done to treat pancreatic cancer.

Kate.  (A very proud daughter.)

***UPDATE***

My beautiful mum passed away at around 9:20am on the 26th May 2008, the day after my 28th birthday.  My dad, my two younger sisters and I are convinced that she held on until that day and time for various reasons... But the main thing is that she fought until the end, her pulse beating for around 7/8 minutes after her last breath.

'Proud' doesn't even begin to explain what I feel for my mum. But pride is the main factor in trying to raise money for the PCRF - my mum is so inspiring and the less people that have to go through what my family have, the better.

Be safe.

Kate.  (In awe of a wonderful woman - Wendy Patricia Beswick (nee Wyllie) 04/08/57 - 26/05/08.)