Family's bittersweet success for Angela

Angela Butcher died in January 2013, just four month after being diagnosed with small cell ovarian cancer.

But in the short time she had before her death she started fundraising to initate research and give hope to others.

And now that fight has been recognised.

Her family, parents Linda, Mike and brother Mark Butcher, have received news from the chief executive of The Eve Appeal, Athena Lamnisos, that: “the Small Cell Ovarian Cancer Research Project, which aims to develop International Research Collaboration and a Patient Research Registry, has officially started and is accredited to Angela Butcher from Biggleswade who has been the inspiration and focus of this pioneering research programme”.

Mum Linda said “Friday was a very special day – Angela did it!”

But the research now needs volunteer patients to consent and take part in the research programme.

The second challenge is to raise sufficient funds to extend the research from 15 months to a full five-year research programme, leading to clinical trials, so fundraising is full steam ahead.

The next event for Angela’s small cell ovarian cancer research at The Eve Appeal is Angela’s Par 3 Challenge which is on Saturday, July 2 at Letchworth Family Par 3 Golf Course.

To date Angela’s Research Fund stands at an incredible £45,618.07 as family and friends havecontinued to fundraise.

Said Linda: “Angela’s family are indeed very proud of Angela and very grateful to the Eve Appeal, the Research Team, family and friends for their support in turning Angela’s hopes into reality.”

Angela had classic symptoms of ovarian cancer in March 2012 but because of her age at the time, only 30, it didn’t register with the nurses or doctors at her local health centre.

Her persistence that something was wrong finally led to scans and then surgery in July 2012.

But by then the cancer had spread and she was told the diagnosis and prognosis for the rare and aggressive form of cancer in September.

She died in St John’s Hospice.

>For the Par 3 Challenge or to support Angela’s Fund in any other way, phone Linda on 07730 319209 or message Mark James Butcher on facebook.

>If you know anyone with small cell ovarian cancer, please ask them to make contact via www.sc-ovca.org or Tel 01223 746716.