Amanda's Story

In May 2017, our beautiful Sister In Law Amanda Westell received the devastating news she had Grade 3b Cervical cancer. After experiencing unusual symptoms and having never missed a smear test this news was such a huge shock.

Amanda is a truly inspirational and strong woman and was determined to fight! After receiving the news, she soon started a combination of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy and a final treatment of Brachytherapy last August.

After a difficult wait of 12 weeks to find out the results, in December 2017 results showed the fantastic news that the tumour in her cervix had completely gone. This was such amazing news, but in the same breath the doctors had noticed a change in a nearby lymph node which needed further investigation.

Following further tests, In January 2018 Amanda received the devastating news the cancer had spread to lymph nodes in her Pelvis and Lung and that there was now no cure and options were Palliative chemotherapy. Since then further options have been made known to Amanda, which is really positive.

Amanda has been through 6 further rounds of intense chemotherapy over the last 6 months and is waiting further results to see how she is responding.

There are treatment options available for Amanda which are expensive and although we all wish that money doesn’t matter, it does. Amanda and Luke’s family and friends are trying to raise as many funds as we can to make those treatment options a reality for Amanda, so she does have OPTIONS.

Amanda is a loving mother to Maisy and Molly and beautiful wife to our awesome brother Luke and we want them as a lovely young family to be able to make as many long lasting fun memories as possible, so here comes our fundraising challenge…

Amanda’s Avengers (this is our team name!!) are taking on the Wye Valley Ultra Challenge of Walking (and a little bit of jogging!!) the 60 mile route over 2 days on 11th & 12th August this year (2 months to go!!). Here’s a link to the challenge, so you can check out what we’re doing - https://www.wyevalleychallenge.com

Yes, it’s going to hurt…there’s going to be some blisters, some sore legs, ALOT of chaffing!! and probably times when we’re thinking can we actually do this Ultra Challenge?!, BUT we absolutely 100% will complete it! Although there’s no denying it’s going to be hard, it is nothing compared to the strength and determination that Amanda has shown this last year in all the hundreds of tests, treatments and scans she has been through - one thing we never hear is her moan about anything - she truly is a real inspiration to so many people!

Our team consists of Luke Westell (Amanda’s rock of a husband and our very inspirational younger brother), Will Westell (my other pretty cool brother), my husband Andy (another very cool dude!) and me, Polly (big sister to Luke and Will and wifey to Andy!).

We as a family have been blown away by Amanda, Luke and the girls positivity, strength and are truly so so proud of them all by the way they have tackled this very difficult time in their lives.

We want to help Amanda get the treatment she desperately needs and for them all as a family to make many happy memories, so here’s where you can all help. Please, if there is anything you can spare to help us reach our fundraising target, no matter how small, it will be so greatly appreciated.

Each donation and special message is a constant boost to Amanda and Luke, so we really appreciate everyone’s help. Thank you.

Sending everyone much love.

Polly and 'Amanda’s Avengers' team xxx