Former Emmerdale actress Leah Bracknell reveals battle with terminal lung cancer
She starred in Emmerdale for 19 years.
Leah Bracknell, who starred in Emmerdale between 1989 and 2005, has revealed she is suffering from terminal lung cancer.
The 52-year-old played the part of Zoe Tate and was well known for raising awareness of LGBT issues in the soap after her character was cast as a lesbian.
Leah, who is known as Ali to her friends and family has set up a GoFundMe page with her husband, hoping to raise enough money to receive treatment in Germany.
On the page Leah explains how just a few weeks ago she was fit and healthy, "Just over 5 weeks ago. I was feeling perfectly well, fit and healthy. Teaching yoga classes and workshops, it was a time of new beginnings : preparing to move house, youngest child fleeing the nest, and excited to be starting rehearsals for a comedy play, being back onstage, going on tour."
She went to explain how her life quickly changed, "My abdomen suddenly ballooned and within a matter of a few days I looked heavily pregnant. I could barely walk or breathe."
After a "terrifying night" in hospital the mother-of-two was then diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, meaning it is terminal, not curable, or operable.
In recent years Leah has been working as a yoga teacher and as Jez explains on their GoFundMe page "Leah has been unable to work in her chosen profession of acting for a number of years which has seen a big drain on her resources.
"This is why we are fundraising here."
At the time of writing they have raised £19,000 of the £50,000 they are hoping to raise so that Leah can visit the Hallwang clinic in Germany which they believe will give her "the best possible chances of not only survival, but to thrive".
If you would like to donate toward Leah's treatment her GoFundMe page can be found here.