South Shields woman's bid to raise £40,000 for life-saving cancer treatment

A woman from South Tyneside who is battling cancer has launched her own fundraising campaign for life-saving treatment in a bid to fight the disease.
Pip Majerski is trying to raise £40,000 to pay for a year's worth of cancer treatment.Pip Majerski is trying to raise £40,000 to pay for a year's worth of cancer treatment.
Pip Majerski is trying to raise £40,000 to pay for a year's worth of cancer treatment.

Pip Majerski was diagnosed with bowel cancer in October 2016 after undergoing surgery for a bowel obstruction.

The disease has since spread to her liver - for which she is receiving chemotherapy.

Pip Majerski's mother Daphne Sharpe.Pip Majerski's mother Daphne Sharpe.
Pip Majerski's mother Daphne Sharpe.
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Along with the treatments, Pip, who grew up in South Shields and now lives in Hampden, London, was offered monoclonal antibodies to target the tumour cells and stunt their growth.

However, due to funding rules she was only allowed a certain number of cycles on the NHS.

To continue the treatment she now has to find £3,500 each month.

Pip, who lost her hair during the course of her chemotherapy treatment, launched a bid to raise £40,000 to help fund a year’s worth of treatment and has already smashed the halfway target.

Pip Majerski is trying to find £40,000 to fund cancer treatment.Pip Majerski is trying to find £40,000 to fund cancer treatment.
Pip Majerski is trying to find £40,000 to fund cancer treatment.
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On April 21, she will be returning home to help her mum Daphne Sharpe host a fete to further boost the funds.

The event - named Give to Live - will take place at Mrs Sharpe’s home at 58 Ullswater Gardens, South Shields, from 10am until 4pm.

Pip, who has continued to work in the pharmaceutical industry throughout her ordeal, said: “The diagnosis came out of the blue, as I had no symptoms or signs I had bowel cancer.

“When it spread to my liver I was offered the new treatment of monoclonal antibodies, along with the chemotherapy. I was given a number of cycles on the NHS.

Pip Majerski's mother Daphne Sharpe.Pip Majerski's mother Daphne Sharpe.
Pip Majerski's mother Daphne Sharpe.
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“But then when I was told the treatment would no longer be funded, I was really disappointed, as it meant I would now need to find £3,500 a month to continue it.

“It’s a lot of money to find each month. We did reach out to family and friends, but we knew long term that couldn’t be sustained.

“I’ve since launched a JustGiving page to help me raise the funds needed.

“I know eventually this will stop working, but at the moment it is helping to shrink the tumours, so I have to try and stay on it for as long as possible.

Pip Majerski is trying to find £40,000 to fund cancer treatment.Pip Majerski is trying to find £40,000 to fund cancer treatment.
Pip Majerski is trying to find £40,000 to fund cancer treatment.
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“I don’t want to be seen as a victim, so I’m trying to just get on with things the best I can - it is horrific.”

At the fete, visitors will have the chance to snap up a range of handmade gifts, cakes, plants, books and bric-a-brac, and try their luck on raffles.

To donate to Pip’s appeal visit her JustGiving page here.