Nedra, Georgia’s mum, was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in December 2017 and sadly passed away two years later. Since 2018, Georgia has taken on a challenge every year to raise both awareness and funds for Target Ovarian Cancer.
In total, Georgia has raised almost £7,000 and is determined to keep going to help prevent other women from experiencing what her mum did.
Georgia told us:
It’s really important to me, and my family, that we use mum’s legacy to raise as much awareness of ovarian cancer as possible.
Before her diagnosis, Mum was experiencing a bloated tummy but originally thought she’d just put on a little bit of weight. We now know that that is one of the main symptoms of ovarian cancer.
In early January 2018, Mum underwent an eight-hour operation to remove as much of the cancer as possible and as a result had to have a stoma fitted – she had hoped that wouldn’t be the case. After recovering from the surgery, Mum went on to have a course of chemotherapy which did seem to help stabilise things for a few months.
Finding Target Ovarian Cancer
Mum was the one that found Target Ovarian Cancer originally, I think it was when she was researching about ovarian cancer following her diagnosis. She shared it with us, and I then used the website to understand more about ovarian cancer in general and mum’s prognosis.
After her first course of chemotherapy had finished, we signed up for the charity’s 2018 Ovarian Cancer Walk|Run event in London as a family to do something altogether and raise some money.
It was a good event for Mum to be able to focus on and work towards after her surgery and chemo. I had already started my individual fundraising journey by taking on the 10-mile Tough Mudder challenge in August that year.
Following this, I decided that I’d take on a challenge each year for Target Ovarian to raise funds and awareness.
A recurrence and a renewed commitment to fundraise
Sadly, in December 2018 we were given the news that the cancer had returned. Mum underwent a second course of chemotherapy starting on New Year’s Eve – quite a way to bring in 2019! This did seem to help though, and mum reacted positively to the treatment.
She was even able to go back to work for a bit and we managed to go on an amazing family holiday to Colorado, where Mum was from, in July 2019 – which we’ll always be grateful for.
At the end of August Mum had a seizure and was rushed to hospital. It was then that we were told that the cancer had spread to her brain with multiple tumours visible on her scan.
As she was a fighter, Mum underwent a few rounds of radiotherapy to reduce the brain tumours, but unfortunately, she passed away in the December, just three days before Christmas – one of her favourite holidays.
It was a really difficult time for our family, but I didn’t want the fundraising to stop there. If anything, I was more inspired to help make a difference.
2020 presented its own challenges with the Covid-19 lockdown, but it was also an opportunity to set up a fundraising initiative from home. ‘Nedra’s Sweet Charity’ was born, and I sold sweets and brownies through Etsy to raise money for Target Ovarian Cancer.
The pandemic also gave me one of my favourite fundraising memories – a channel swim in the back garden in 2021. Although harder work than I first expected, this challenge was one of my favourites to date, I think because of the creativity and that my dad was able to be involved in the planning.
Another challenge that I really enjoyed was the Spartan Race that my boyfriend and I got to do together last year.
So far, I’ve raised £3,600 through my fundraising challenges and £3,200 through ‘Nedra’s Sweet Charity’. And there’s so much more to come!
The importance of raising awareness
As well as fundraising, it’s really important to me, and my family, that we use mum’s legacy to increase awareness of ovarian cancer in general.
For doctors and healthcare professionals to be aware of the symptoms, as well the general population, as women are often diagnosed at a very late stage when there are less treatment options.
We want this to change so women don’t have to face what my mum did, and families don’t have to experience what we are still going through without her here. That's my main motivation really, to keep fundraising, to keep raising awareness of this disease, and to help Target Ovarian Cancer support everyone affected by ovarian cancer.
What’s next?
Since working in London, ‘Nedra’s Sweet Charity’ hasn’t been a priority but once I move in with my boyfriend and am a bit more settled, I plan on getting it back up and running. My brother and dad have also set up an annual golf day in which they will continue to raise money for Target Ovarian Cancer.
My boyfriend and I are planning to take on this year’s challenge together again. The Battle at Blaise event in September is several fitness challenges set in the epic trails around Blaise Castle in Bristol. We're looking forward to the training and getting stuck into the event!
For anyone thinking about starting to fundraise my advice would be just start. You’ll be surprised at how much support you receive, especially if you put yours and your loved one’s story out there. This does take a bit of bravery, but it’s worth it. There’s no limit to what you can achieve.
