Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. I am fundraising in memory of my sister Helen who passed away on 27th May 2006, her 21st birthday. Helen had battled a rare & aggressive cancer, Rhabdomyosarcoma, for the 2.5yrs prior to her death.

Helen would have been celebrating her 30th Birthday this year. I usually take part in RFL in Basingstoke in her memory but this year fancied something a little bit different so instead am taking part in 'Pretty Muddy' in Reading on May 30th, 3 days after Helen's birthday. This is a 5km course with muddy obstacles along the way :)

I have donated directly to cancer research (the event organisers) & via this page am fundraising for the Chris Lucas Trust. The only charity which fundraises specifically for the rare & aggressive cancer that Helen had. So far I have raisied over £11,000 in Helen's memory & with the addition of fundraising by friends & family we are proud to have raised over £20,000 in total.

Helen was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in October 2003. Helen was due to be competing in the IDTA National Championships for Freestyle dance in the month following her diagnosis, something she had worked extremely hard to achieve having started dancing only 5 years before.

Following her diagnosis Helen embarked on 12 months of treatment. Initially 6 months of intensive chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy, then 6 months of not so intensive chemo. The treatment appeared to go well & the tumour receeded quickly.

A few weeks after Helen's treatment had finished she was told that her scan was clear. The happiness of this was shortlived however, when 2 weeks later the cancer returned. Helen's consultant thought he must have missed something on the scan but he had not. Such was the aggression of the cancer it had returned from 'nothing' in this short time. Initially Helen was told there was nothing that could be done & that she was expected to live for between 3 & 6 months. Then Helen's consultant said that he could try to remove the tumour but this would mean also removing her eye. He estimated that this operation would give Helen around a 5% chance of being cured. Helen immediately agreed & underwent the 10.5hr operation around 3 weeks later, the details of which belong in science fiction. Helen was transferred to the high dependency unit & was told that it would be at least a week before she could get out of bed but typical Helen within days she was up & about! The expected 3 month recovery time was also quashed by Helen who recovered extremely well at home.

Later in the year, following Helen's operation, the cancer was beginning to show in other parts of Helen's face. More radiotherapy followed & then in February 2006 it was confirmed that the cancer had returned to it's original site. Helen had known this before Christmas but realising the consequences decided to enjoy Christmas first & then go to the hospital in the new year. It was then confirmed that no more treatment was available. The hospital said they could not believe Helen was still walking let alone clubbing in London as was the case at the time! We were told that Helen could pass away at any time and that we should expect her to live for no more than 4 weeks at the very most. My sister continued to amaze family, friends & her doctors & lived for another 3.5 months. Helen lost the sight in her remaining eye at the end of April 2006 which said was the 'worst thing that could have happened', the following month was mostly spent at home.

Helen passed away peacefully & with dignity at home at 6pm on the evening of her 21st birthday, 27th May 2006, with my Mum, Dad & myself beside her having spent the day with family & close friends visiting.

I really do not want my sister's fight, & it was a fight, to be in vain. The only way that cancer will be beaten is if we continue to help to fund research into this awful disease which claims the lives of far too many wonderful people.

I will be fundraising this year in memory of my gorgeous Sister, my cousin Tracey & my Nan.

The Chris Lucas Trust & cancer research are charities which I believe passionately about raising funds & awareness for. Cancer can affect anyone, no matter how young, fit or healthy.

Adele x

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