Brave Teenager Fights Brain Cancer with Unyielding Spirit
Help Sophie Clibborn to keep fighting brain cancer with hope!
Christchurch, Canterbury
Please help Sophie Clibborn an 18 year old teenager who is determined, courageous and beautiful to keep fighting this aggressive brain cancer.
Sophie’s dream of becoming an independent teenager and attending The University of Canterbury to study Law was shattered on the 6th December 2024 when she had a brain bleed from a tumour the size of her fist that resulted in her having emergency brain surgery.
Soph and her most gorgeous loving family were hit with the hard news that this tumour was a Glioblastoma which is a very aggressive cancer with a poor survival rate.
Sophie has finished 6 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation, and she is now on triple chemotherapy for one week every month. These treatments have played havoc with her body resulting in lethargy, hair loss, weight loss, nausea and vomiting.
Sophie has had two MRI scans 3 months apart since commencing treatment and unfortunately again the family was hit with brutal news that the tumour was growing and rapidly at that.
From the moment she was diagnosed Sophie has not let fear consume her, she made the decision: she would fight; and she would fight with hope.
If you can give could you please do so to help Sophie keep fighting this cruel disease.
Sarah Thelwall's involvement (page creator)
Sophie is my best friend's daughter who I love dearly along with all her family. I have always enjoyed talking to Soph as her personality is infectious and has always showed determination and positivity.
Use of funds
This is where we need your assistance, to help fund MRI Guided Laser Ablation Brain Surgery in America as this is not possible in New Zealand and is vital to keep Sophie alive. The funds will also help cover the travel, accommodation and living costs.
Latest update
🩷 Thank You 🩷 18 September 2025
Sophie is back home in NZ. We would like everyone to know that the surgery went very well and that the care and expertise from the team at UCLA has been outstanding. The cost of the surgery and her stay in hospital (overnight) was $288,000NZD, so every single donation has gone towards paying for Sophie's treatment, and we cannot thank you all enough. We know there have been thousands of donations, from our amazing families and friends, and many many people from NZ and around the world (thanks to the power of social media!). Our amazing local Ellesmere community, the wider Christchurch community, businesses, schools, friends of friends, and even total strangers fundraising on our behalf, putting in huge amounts of time and effort, sponsoring events, running raffles and even just running! The plan from here is to find clinical trials specific to Sophie's tumor, which seem to mostly be run overseas. Thank you everyone for making this all possible, it has simply blown us away🩷🩷🩷🩷
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