SURVIVAL RATES HAVEN’T CHANGED IN 40 YEARS - DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING FOR RESEARCH - THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME.

What started as a request for donations to Pancreatic Cancer UK instead of flowers for Tara’s funeral last year, quickly grew into an overwhelming outpouring of love and affection for my lovely lady and mum to Jack and Ollie.

Others who knew her and knew of her have raised money in Tara’s memory and collectively including gift aid we have so far managed to raise over £9,000.

It is now over a year since our family lost Tara to Pancreatic Cancer on 27th January 2016, just under 4 months from diagnosis in October 2015.

I know we all feel like she’s popped out in her car to help someone in need or delivering a counselling session to children as part of her ‘My Time Too’ project she developed for the Friends of St.Nicholas Charity whom she worked for based in Hastings, and then arrive home, turn her key in the front door and rush to the kitchen to make a cuppa.

Tara was a fantastic baker, just ask any member of our family, friends and work colleagues, and was always on hand to bake for varying causes and charities.

So instead of my sub-standard baking, and to continue to raise money to fund research and treatments to improve survival rates of this awful type of cancer I thought I’d climb a little mountain in Tanzania.

I leave the UK on the 20th September and should reach the summit of Kilimanjaro at the height of 5,895m on the 28th September.

Tara would think I am crazy but having her with me in spirit I know will help me train to get fit enough to complete the climb and reach the summit.

If you would like to donate any amount - I would be so grateful. Any amount, large or small would add to the amazing amount already raised, and it will spur me on and give me even greater focus to get to the top in Tara’s memory and help with vital funding of research, treatments and one day a cure for this awful disease that took my Tara at the age of 47.

About 95 percent of people with pancreatic cancer die from it, experts say. It's so lethal because, during the early stages, when the tumor would be most treatable, there are usually no symptoms. It tends to be discovered at advanced stages when abdominal pain or jaundice may result.

Thank you so much - Darren x