Samantha's Big Chance for Normality

It's been an incredibly rough time for Samantha and her family over the last 2 years.

I got the message in September 2012 that she had been diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Since then, she has undergone severe and invasive treatment and at times, we didn't think she would pull through.

She was so terribly frail and as a family friend watching from the outside, it was heart breaking. I can't imagine what her mother, Karen, would have been feeling.

To use mum's words "It's been a living hell made worse by the fact that Samantha's friends have continued to enjoy life, develop into the teen years and move on. All this has affected Sam incredibly as she works through the physical and mental pain of this horrible disease".

Things have improved since 2012 but she is still undergoing chemo therapy.

The future is uncertain but we want to think positive, as Sam is a true fighter with a determined attitude and strong will.

She has been given the opportunity to travel with her class to Europe next year to visit the countries that they have been studying. The good news is that the doctors have given their ok, so all that remains is the funding.

This trip is critical to help Sam forget her loneliness and pain. It is the first opportunity she has had to re-join her class mates on this adventure as a peer, not a sick person.

Sam's Mum, has been her constant companion and main care giver. As a solo parent she has had to drastically reduce her hours at work to ensure Sam is not alone and is cared for every moment she can. Their income is basically gifts from family and excess cash is something Karen can only dream about.

Whilst funding the trip is one thing, there is also a need to provide some cash reserve because, of course, travel insurance for Samantha is now a thing of the past - essentially a non event and there needs to be some plan if Samantha gets ill.

We are asking that you help a little to go towards making Sam's wish happen by giving her something exciting to look forward to and to focus on.

Thank you for visiting our cause.