Hi everyone. We are Chris, Jenny and Robbie Cook. Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

This wonderful woman you see in the picture was Ellen Cook, loving wife to Chris and devoted mother to Jenny and Robbie. Ellen was an inspirational art teacher for 37 years, many of those spent teaching students at Danesgate Pupil Referral Unit who'd not had the best start in life. Her passion was helping young people to realise their value and potential, using the medium of creative arts as a means of opening up communication, giving students the opportunity to be free to express themselves. She made a huge difference to the lives of the many young people she made feel valued and loved. She also enjoyed an active lifestyle, walking the dog, swimming, yoga, travelling and working in her allotment, one of her favourite places. Up until April 2019 she was a strong, fit and active middle aged woman enjoying the start of her retirement years.

Whilst on holiday in Italy during April, she suddenly, and without warning, became ill, with confusion and violent headaches. On Good Friday she was rushed into hospital in Massa and diagnosed with a large brain tumour. A week later she underwent a craniotomy surgery in Pisa to remove the tumour, but this was not possible due to the position deep within her brain. The biopsy results revealed a Glioblastoma Multiforme grade 4 tumour, a highly aggressive cancer with no known cause and no current cure. After making a strong recovery in Italy, walking and collecting wild flowers (pictured), she returned to the UK with her husband and children to undertake palliative treatment. With a strong and positive attitude, she was doing really well, continuing to be active, and, despite three periods of hospitalisation during a six week period, she was making the most of the time she had left with her family. Sadly, on July 24th, she deteriorated very suddenly and passed away the following morning.

You can learn more about this cruel, indiscriminate and unforgiving disease, here: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org 

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