Cheresse Gerber is 27 years old and a loving daughter, sister, doting wife and mother of two children - Taylor-Shae (4 years old) and Nickolas (8 months old). Her life was instantaneously changed after the birth of her youngest son. Doctors noticed an abnormal growth between the pelvis floor and bladder. She had suffered through her pregnancy of extreme pain and discomfort, but sadly the tumour was left unnoticed throughout the pregnancy. She was finally diagnosed with stage 2 Cervical Cancer and a cancerous tumour.

The cancer is spreading like wildfire - which doctors suspect to be influenced by her hormones, and in the 62 days from diagnosis to day treatment was due to start - her cancer had spread. She went from stage 2 to stage 3b and possibly stage 4. The tumour is pushing against her bladder and bowel making it almost impossible to urinate or pass stools, if this does not improve she will have to make use of a catheter. This has caused tremendous strain on her kidneys and experiencing crippling pain to the extent of having to rely on using a wheelchair to get around, as the pain numbs her legs making it impossible to walk.She is being cared for by her sister, her pain is only managed by morphine and she is struggling do any of the things we each take for granted on a daily basis.

Cheresse lives in South Africa, and due to no medical aid her treatment is funded by the crippled and highly overwhelmed public health system. In the UK, it seems that we take the NHS for granted. We will often complain about the waiting times, but we are not made to wait for lifesaving treatment. In practice, we wait two weeks for a diagnosis with a specialist and treatment is started within a month of that. If this was the case for Cheresse - she would have completed her radiation and chemotherapy by now.

Like many other young people, Cheresse was not expecting to get cancer and, this at such a young age. We therefore make a heart-wrenching appeal to support her family in gaining access to private treatment. Every day she continues to wait for treatment is another day that her cancer is allowed to spread and it is another day that her children have to watch their mother suffer in pain.

Cheresse needs R100 000 (equivalent of almost (£6 000) deposit before she can even start her life-saving treatment. It will then cost up to another £7 000 (or more) to complete the treatment.

Cheresse needs our help, kind hearts, lots of prayer's, love and support!

We her family have created this page for Cheresse with the hope to help raise funds for her to start her required treatment. Any donations big or small will be welcomed with opened arms and will be greatly appreciated.