Caroline's Story

Warning - this is something that's probably going to be hard to read for anyone, particularly if affected by cancer or loss. 

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In August of 2004, Caroline was just 9 years (I was 12) old when she was hit in the arm with a skateboard while sitting on a skateboard ramp and within just hours her arm had ballooned and she'd been taken into Nottingham A&E with what our parents though was just a broken bone. 

To this day, I don't know what was said when my parents were taken out of the room and into a meeting room.. All I knew was that some fancy Doctor had been called to come in at midnight after x-rays had been taken.It turned out it wasn't a break, it was osteosarcoma - bone cancer. It didn't take long, literally days, for Caroline to start treatment and for the Chemo to be given.

By December, they were positive the chemo was working and took her to Birmingham Hospital to have the bit of bone removed and any remaining tumour. After having an x-ray on arrival, Caroline was told that as she had a cold they couldn't operate and that she could come back in a few weeks. Just a couple of weeks later on boxing day 2004, we were in Professor Walker's office being told that she would have to have her arm amputated as the tumour hadn't shrunk enough to remove it. 

Just days later, the day before New Years eve, Caroline went into Surgery back at Birmingham and had her arm amputated... within less than 24 hours she was home celebrating in the New Year! 

Over the next 18 months, we repeatedly had the good news that the cancer had gone followed a few weeks/months later than it was back in various parts of her body - legs, spine or lungs. By August 2006, after being rocked by the loss of other friends from hospital, our parents were told that options and time were running out. We were whisked away by  When You Wish Upon a Star, a Nottingham based charity that grants wishes for sick children, to Florida for 3 weeks where we visited all the theme and Disney parks and Caroline's wish of Swimming with Dolphins came true! 

We arrived home to more Chemo and now Radio therapy to try and prolong time as much as possible. This carried on right until April of 2007. Late April 2007.. what I'd imagine to be one of the worst days of my Mum and Dad's life. Being called into Professor Walker's office for a meeting was never going to bring good news. 4 weeks left. 

I had no idea what was going on, neither did Caroline. All we knew was that we'd been given 4 weeks off of School and treatment. It's amazing how much you can cram into 4 weeks when you know that's all you have.. trips to London, seeing as much family as possible, meeting Mcfly and Sugababes on the same night, and a big family holiday. 

What was the fourth week was spent in Wales with my Mum's family and spent on the beach playing. Thursday night came around and Caroline suddenly became tired and weak and was rushed to the nearest hospital. After a night there, she was taken to Nottingham in an ambulance.. blue lights flashing, sirens blaring out - how my Dad never got a speeding ticket trying to keep up from Wales to Nottingham behind an ambulance I'll never know. 

By 2.30am Saturday night/Sunday morning, she'd fallen asleep listening to Mcfly with me, Mum and Dad sat on her bed with her. 

It's crazy how quickly things can change.. one minute she's playing on the beach then getting ready and putting her make up on going out for a meal and then less than 72 hours later, she'd fallen asleep after her lung had collapsed. 

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It's stories like this, which need to be shared for it to hit home with other people just how hard it is being part of a family affected by Bone Cancer. A lot of people have no idea what it's like and therefore don't understand why I am so passionate about raising awareness and sharing our stories to get people involved to help raise awareness and funds. The more funds that are raised through people raising awareness, the less people will have to go through what we've been through - but we can't do it on our own, we need everyone!

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/3000milechallenge

When You Wish Upon A Star

Our second charity is the incredible When You Wish Upon A Star!

If you know us personally, you will know Sarah’s Fairy God Mother, Barbara 💗

Barbara White found the charity 30 years ago and helps grant wishes for sick children - whatever they want to do, wherever they want to go, Barb will make it happen.

We had wishes granted not only for Caroline but as a family - we went to Florida for 3 weeks doing every Disney park, we swam with dolphins, and of course started McFly Mania. 💙🥰

Each year they fly planes of families out to Lapland to meet Santa and we were so lucky to be able to do this with Caroline. Each plane trip costs nearly £1million so, as much as we won’t raise that much, this is why next year is so important to us ❄️ 

Not only is it the magical things, but they can help fund homes for holidays, emergency care such as private air ambulances or transportation.

There’s not enough words in the world to describe how life changing not only the charity have been, but Barbara herself. Even since we lost Caroline she’s arranged for me and Mum to do things, and even got Mcfly to send us a message to read out at our wedding.

I love Barb beyond words and all the Wish Team
At the office, so here’s to 2020

Bone Cancer Research Trust

When we did the challenge last time we had such a huge run up to it and was in the papers before we even started - but this year we’ve been so busy and to be honest, it’s been a tough few months mentally, I’ve not even thought about it! 

But this weekend our BCRT package arrived 🔶 We’re ready to hit the roads/gym/who knows where else while supporting one of our 2 incredible charities. But I thought I’d do a little post about what bone cancer is and what BCRT do to fight it 💪🏼

For those who don’t know, my little Sister, Caroline, lost a battle to Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer when she was just 12 years old back in 2007!

* There are a number of types of Bone Cancer - osteosarcoma generally appears in people under the age of 20
* (As of 2019) there are, on average, less than 500 cases diagnosed each year
* It is not known as to what causes Bone Cancer - in Caroline’s case, she fell off a skateboard ramp onto her wrist and this is how it started
* Main symptoms are bone pain, swelling, a lump, easily broken bones
* It can be treated with chemo and radiotherapy it often leads to limb amputation (as was Caroline’s case)
* Only 60% of people diagnosed will live for at least 5 years 

I’ve met the Team at BCRT, I’ve been to head office and I’ve been to their conferences - but I still cannot get my head around the amazing work they do! They have just 4 aims:

* Research and provide grants and funding to medical facilities investigating bone cancer and potential treatments
* Provide the most up to date and correct information
* Raise awareness
* Support those who have survived, and the families and friends of those who haven’t. 

We were lucky enough to be able to go to Bradford Uni in June and see actual chemotherapy be made in front of our eyes! They do incredible work and without BCRT, they wouldn’t be able to do this without their funding. 

I won’t keep rambling - we have a whole year ahead of us for this! But in the mean time, take a look at their website and have a read 💙

https://www.bcrt.org.uk/

Welcome!

I thought I’d do a little post to explain why we’re here, what we’re doing and how you can get involved 🙌🏼

So in 2020, we’ll be running/cycling/any form of “sport”’ing 3000 miles in the space of 1 year to raise money for Bone Cancer Research Trust and When You Wish Upon A Star in memory of my little sister, Caroline. 🌟

We lost Caroline to Osteosarcoma (bone cancer), a very rare form of cancer in 2007 at the age of 12 and When You Wish Upon A Star were beyond incredible with Caroline, fulfilling anything she wanted to do, anyone she wanted to me and still supported me and Mum since 💙

Since then, as I got older, I got more interested in what took Caroline away and as I hit my 20s, I had questions and wanted to find reasons as to how and why it happened - this is how I met the amazing team at Bone Cancer Research Trust. They’ve supported me for many years now, helping me raise awareness and teaching me what I need to know to educate others. 

This year we visited the BCRT Conference and were lucky enough be invited to Bradford Uni where they are developing treatments for Bone Cancer. And this is what has inspired us to take on this (ridiculous!) challenge. This was the first real time Nick got a chance to see what me, Caroline and my family went through first hand listening to people and meeting people who have been through it too. 🧡 

So next year, we need your help! 

If you’re a keen jogger or cyclist, maybe you’re already planning on doing a marathon or sport event, then you can DONATE YOUR MILES 🏆 Yep.. you can add your miles to our total and get involved! We’ll of course be setting up a JustGiving Page but we understand not everyone is in a position to give money so maybe just a lap around the block, or a nice Country walk can help you support us instead 🤸🏻‍♀️

Again, thank you to everyone who has shown support so far - here’s to 2020!