Woman battling cancer raises £5k for Swindon Hospital
The money will go to Cancer Research UK, Bowel Cancer UK and Brighter Futures
Sara Tye from Wiltshire has raised £5,000 for the Great Western Hospital, after being diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in February.
Sara’s diagnosis was late due to the pandemic so came as a complete shock to her and her family earlier this year. The delay meant there was a low chance of recovery.
“It was the most traumatic day of my life,” Sara said, “I’m under permanent care of the oncologist – I’m always a patient.
“It probably took two months/ 12 weeks to get over the trauma of that initial meeting.”
Despite her trauma, Sara has taken to fundraising to give back to a community of oncology pharmacists, oncology nurses, volunteers, consultants, junior doctors and district nurses that have helped her in her journey through her first chemotherapy regime, which lasted six months.
A JustGiving crowdfunding page was set up in March 23 with the goal of raising £5k for Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Wiltshire, the Macmillan nurses who cared for her as well as Cancer Research UK, Bowel Cancer UK and Brighter Futures.
The target has now been reached through social media, with family, friends and others donating in a unified fight against cancer.
Dr Sarah Lowndes, a Consultant Medical Oncologist at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust received the cheque on behalf of the charities.
Specialising in the treatment of colorectal cancer, lung cancer and cancer of unknown primary (CUP), Dr Lowndes has been instrumental in directing Sara’s chemotherapy and treatment.
But fundraising wasn’t the only goal Sara had in mind, using social media to raise awareness as well as money.
“There are a few stereotypical views of what cancer is – for example, I kept most of my hair and my hair’s gone completely white.
“So the biggest comment I’ve always had when I’ve spoken to somebody is ‘oh my God, you’ve still got your hair!’ and I’m like – that is the least of my problems!
“So I did an educational post about my symptoms, I did an educational post about my side effects, I did an educational post about the pharmacists. There’s the volunteers that give you cups of tea.
“So every single post was about a group of people that put themselves out for everybody that’s suffering from cancer.”
With help from staff at Great Western Hospital, Sara strives to stay positive through her battle, motivating her to work and fight cancer.
She said: “do you know what I’m truly blessed because it was so serious but I am still talking to you and I’m still able to go out for a walk.
“My life has changed, and it has changed forever but then so have hundreds of thousands of people today for one reason or another and I thought to myself if they can do it, I can do this.”