Lisa George-Wood

Why I'm fundraising...

My beautiful Daughter was diagnosed with ovarian cancer on April 7th 2022, just 5 days before her 16th birthday. She spent her 16th birthday being blue-lighted into hospital rather than celebrating with her friends as 16 year olds should.

Lauren wanted no sympathy and was adamant that she wanted no special treatment, she was just going to get through it. Lauren has such strength of character that she sat her first GCSE exam two weeks to the day after major surgery to remove her tumour - she did amazingly well in her exams!!!

Lauren had been ill for at least three years prior to being diagnosed, and our GPs failed her miserably. Lauren was only diagnosed because she had been admitted to hospital for an ongoing headache. Luckily the Doctor that was on the ward that morning listened - the first Doctor to really do so - and she arranged for the scans and blood tests that found Lauren's tumour. She literally saved Lauren's life and we will be eternally grateful to her for that!!!

Lauren's tumour turned out to be an incredibly rare one - never before seen in Lauren's age (the youngest prior was 26, and the age range normally 60+  There have only been 61 of these ever seen) as such, Lauren's oncologist at the Royal Marsden can't tell us anything in terms of what the future holds. This state of limbo is awful for Lauren to have to endure. She has never been told she's in remission as they simply don't know; so we live in three month cycles hoping and praying for the scan to be clear.

Lauren is determined to improve things for those diagnosed after her, and one of her staples is this sponsored walk. As Lauren is away on her gap year, I will be doing it in her honour.

We are extremely grateful to everyone for their support and love!!! Please give if you can to this incredibly important cause.