In February 2023, my sister told me that she would come to visit me at the dorm where I was living in Newcastle while studying at my university. Suspecting nothing, I met her at the train station, and we went to my room under the pretence that she needed to use the bathroom. When we got there, she said that our parents needed to tell me something over FaceTime.

The next 10 minutes of conversation were foggy and blurred for me, as my mom informed me about her diagnosis—pancreatic cancer.

For 9 months, my mom bravely fought the disease with rounds of chemotherapy, but in November 2023, she passed away.

Pancreatic cancer is very difficult to detect in its early stages, which is why it’s one of the most dangerous forms of cancer. While survival rates have significantly improved for many cancers, this is not the case for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic Cancer UK is committed to addressing this injustice through comprehensive efforts. They support people currently battling pancreatic cancer, advocate for better healthcare policies, and fund critical research aimed at transforming the future. Your support can help them achieve the breakthroughs that are so desperately needed.

One of my mom's pieces of advice in her final months was a simple but very true phrase—you need to be kinder to people. My sister and I want to fundraise money so no one has to go through such difficult times. Therefore, I believe that small steps lead medicine and science to great victories. Contributing to research can lead to better early detection methods and, one day, a cure.