Update

We are very sorry to have to let everyone know that Leah sadly passed away on Wednesday, before we could use the funds to help her as we had hoped. She developed a rare and dangerous complication that caused her to go downhill very rapidly.

As everyone who knew her will know, she faced her disease with courage and strength. Your amazing generosity lifted us all, including Leah, at the darkest of times and showed how many people loved and cared for her.

She was wonderful, warm, funny and kind and we will always miss her more than words can say.

We plan to divide the money equally between Seth's future and Cancer Research UK, to aid the fight against this awful disease. This is what we think Leah would have wanted.

The ball will still go ahead in her memory next month, as we think she would have wished. She would definitely have wanted everyone to have a good time!

Please find out more about the ball, including booking tickets, at http://midsummermasqueradeball.co.uk/

From Leah's family xxx

This is Leah and her gorgeous toddler, Seth.

We are raising money so that Leah, who was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer while five months pregnant, can spend as long as possible with her son and her husband, Colm.

While Leah should have been excitedly planning for Seth’s arrival, she was starting chemotherapy.

Leah, who is 34, has been on gruelling treatment, including radiotherapy and surgery, ever since.

Despite this, the disease has continued to advance through her bones and liver and she is in increasing pain.

Her doctors tell her that the next best step involves expensive immunotherapy drugs.

While these are showing great promise in trials, they need to be privately funded as they are not yet available through the NHS or health insurance.

We, her friends, family and colleagues, are hoping to raise about £80,000 to fund a year’s worth of these potentially life-enhancing drugs.

The funds from July’s amazing masquerade ball will be a vital part of this.

If you know Leah, you will know how fabulous and kind she is – and that she would never ask for money. But we are doing it on her behalf.

Any small amount can help, and please do pass onto friends, colleagues and relatives if possible.

We just want to give her as long as possible to be a fantastic mum to Seth and be with her husband, Colm.

Please find out more about the ball, including booking tickets, at http://midsummermasqueradeball.co.uk/

And keep up to date with her fundraising at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/For-Leah