Fundraising plea to help young Hastings mum with cancer

Colette Nolan discovered she had a rare form of cancer in both breasts after giving birth but it has spread to her liver and bones despite rigorous therapy.

Doctors told the 34-year-old woman she may not be cured and offer only palliative care as she is staying at St Michael’s Hospice.

But a special clinic in Istanbul, the ChemoThermia Oncology Centre, has offered Colette potentially life-saving treatment, although she needs to raise £100,000 to pay for it.

Colette was told she had triple negative inflammatory breast cancer after giving birth to her son Zebedee 10 months ago. She has tried chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a myriad of other treatments since then but the cancer has spread.

Colette also has a fungating wound in her breast that makes surgery impossible.

Her friends, Emma-lee Thomas and George Vidler, have set up an online fundraising page to raise money for the treatment in Turkey in September, with more than £9,000 being donated so far.

Emma-lee said: “At every stage Colette has shown courage and determination to be cured. She has everything to live for – her baby Zebedee, her husband Tim, as well as friends all over the world desperate to help her find the treatment she needs.

“Colette started a YouTube channel to raise awareness of her illness, posting videos to explain bravely and honestly what it is like to be a 34-year-old mother with triple negative inflammatory breast cancer.

“We are so inspired by her strength and courage and feel we want to help more. We want to help her raise the awareness that she needs and hopefully encourage the fundraising as well. We are holding a fundraising event on April 2 at Icklesham Village Hall, but have also set up a JustGiving page and put a jar in our local pub.”

To make a donation or find out more, visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/colettejoannolan.

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