Climbing for Cara
Morocco
Aim
I am raising money for a charitable cause that is very important to me so please donate and help me reach my target
I am climbing the highest mountain in North Africa with two friends, Emma & Emily. Together we are fundraising for the Great North Children's Hospital Foundation, in memory of my beautiful niece Cara Ella, who tragically lost her battle with Neuroblastoma cancer on the 29th February 2020.
On the 26th of November we’ll be climbing Mount Toubkal in Morocco, at 4,167m it’s the highest mountain in the Atlas range. Emma, Emily and I were all in Africa when the pandemic struck. After difficult lockdowns we were keen to set ourselves a challenge!
We will be walking for two days and camping halfway in a refuge. There will be snow on the way up to the summit and it may get as cold as -15˚C. Adjusting to the altitude will be another challenge but we are very excited to be tackling this before we wave goodbye to 2020.
Cara was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in October 2017, at the age of fourteen months. As a family, we struggled to come to terms with what it meant. Neuroblastoma is a rare childhood cancer, affecting children under the age of five. The cancer develops from the nerve cell, often starts in the abdomen and is very aggressive.
My son, Hari, was just three weeks old when Cara was diagnosed. During my maternity leave, we enjoyed spending some special time with Cara as she began a vigorous treatment journey. Seeing Cara going through so much pain and suffering and watching my sister Issy, her partner Tom and their son Magnus go through this agonising and desperate time was devastating to us all. Throughout this journey, Cara never failed to show us her strength, resilience and patience. She went through countless tests, consultations, anaesthetics, scans and operations and intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.
Cara received fantastic medical intervention and care at The Great North Children’s Hospital Foundation. Ward 4 became a second home to her. The staff there were so fond of her and they all knew her so well. Cara received intervention from leading experts in the country and whilst at the hospital, she was surrounded by an amazing team. She particularly enjoyed the music and play sessions with specialist therapists. Against all the odds, Cara responded really well to treatment.
I moved to Morocco in January 2019 when Cara was starting the final stage of her treatment, Immunotherapy. She was one of the first children with Neuroblastoma to be given the advanced immunotherapy on the NHS. Four months later Cara went into complete remission. We were all overwhelmed and overjoyed by the news. The hospital staff were over the moon. In May 2019 Cara’s baby sister, Astrid was born and this was the most wonderful gift Cara could ever have been given. She was absolutely besotted with her.
Just two months after remission, Cara’s cancer returned, and she was back on the vigorous treatment journey. Despite all the interventions, the Neuroblastoma had spread and it became a battle too hard to fight. Specialists from the hospital continued to support my sister and the family at a time when they needed it the most. Due to Covid-19, Cara’s funeral service was restricted and sadly no one from the hospital was able to attend.
We want to say a special THANK YOU to everyone who helped Cara. All of the money raised will be used in a fantastic way by the Great North Children's Hospital Foundation.
Cara went through so much in her short life. She taught us true strength and dignity. Please help by sponsoring us so that we can help ensure children and their families are able to receive all the additional input they really need when going through this journey of hope, pain, devastation and often grief.
We remember Cara every day in our hearts.
THANK YOU!
This project successfully funded on 3rd December 2020