Thank you for reading this! So firstly my story! I begrudgingly got up at 5.30 am on a Thursday morning to go for a run for my very belated Day 1 training for climbing Mount Elbrus in Russia in 6 ish weeks.... As I was at the top of a very big hill watching the sunrise over Edinburgh (gasping for breath). I thought about Kate, this lady I have never met, but whose story really touched me. I lost my Dad at quite a young age and was very grateful for the time I got to spend with him.... So I thought in a bid to prepare myself for my expedition and to help Kate spend more time with her baby daughter, I have pledged to do 5 days a week of cardio. Now this is a challenge for me as I hate running and anything cardio.... Mainly in a very fixed mindset way because I am rubbish at it! I will be capturing my progress on Instagram MelskiMelski. If you can spare any pennies, all will go directly to helping Kate.

Also if you would like to raise money your own way for this cause, please feel free to become part of this.

Kate's Story

Kate's start to 2017 was one of the best she'd had in many years, as March brought the news that she was pregnant with her first and much awaited baby girl, Ivy. Kate's pregnancy was not an easy one and involved numerous trips to hospital with what she thought were miscarriages. However she fought on and in December 2017 Kate was admitted to hospital to be induced after developing gestational diabetes, which made the end of her pregnancy high risk.

In the early stages of her induction Kate noticed a very small lump on the left side of her face in front of her ear. Kate sought advice from the medical staff who were looking after her and they advised her that she was just recovering from a virus, it was probably a raised gland and not to worry. Two days after finding the lump, Kate gave birth to Ivy; a beautiful little bundle of happiness. After finally settling down at home; Kate, Paul and their new addition enjoyed a lovely Christmas and New Year together but all the while the lump continued to grow.

Within 2 weeks of finding the lump it had almost doubled in size. Kate sought advice from a doctor who again said it was nothing to worry about. However the lump continued to grow and Kate continued to worry. After being urged by her dad to go back to the doctor Kate returned to see a different doctor, who straight away recognised there was something concerning about the size and growth of the lump and Kate was referred urgently for tests. After a further two weeks of tests which involved blood tests, X-Rays, MRI, CT scans and biopsies it was confirmed that Kate had cancer. A very fast growing and aggressive form of cancer which a Pet-CT scan would later confirm had already spread to her lymph nodes.

As Ivy turned 9 weeks old, Kate was scheduled for surgery and endured a 5 hour operation to remove the tumour along with most the lymph nodes on the left side of her face, neck and chest; leaving her with nerve damage and partial facial paralysis. As the tumour had grown so large the surgery was unfortunately unable to completely remove all of the cancerous cells, leaving positive margins and perineurial invasion.

For the best prognosis, radiotherapy within 6 weeks of her surgery was advised however, due to staff shortages at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, they were unable to meet the 6 week recommendation and so Kate contacted hospitals all over the country to ask for a referral to get her treatment in time. Coventry hospital took on her case and quickly prepared her for radiotherapy however in the week before the radiotherapy was due to begin, Kate found two further lumps and was sent for further tests...Unfortunately, the cancer has spread significantly and Surgeons are unsure whether it is actually operable and if it was the chances of survival are very slim. Kate would have no quality of life either way.

Ivy is a 16 week old beautiful baby girl who should have parents undivided attention and Kate and Paul are new parents who should be revelling in their new baby.

With the help of some knowledgeable friends we've worked out that we need to try and raise £100K to pay for the treatment and other expenses such as consultants fees, blood tests, drugs, her immunotherapy. Kate has even considered selling her house to fund her treatment but this is not a realistic timeframe to sell a house and with a newborn baby to care for its not the most feasible option either.

The cancer has spread too far for Doctors to treat it and she has been offered palliative care. Kate is only 34 years old - the prognosis is not good and she has an uphill battle on her hands. Kate and her family need your help; she has everything to live for. Although we know the cancer cannot be cured, there is treatment available in Germany that could prolong and give her a better quality of life to spend with baby Ivy, Paul and her family.