Shropshire border village rallies round Mend Our Mum fight

The Cliffe family were devastated by the news in June that mother Berni, 52, had the disease.

And with the cancer so difficult to diagnose, it had already reached its latest stage by diagnosis, and doctors said that with chemotherapy, the mother of two could only expect to live about nine to 12 months – and without treatment, she was given just three months.

But there could be another option – if the family, who live on the Shropshire border in Audlem, near Market Drayton, can find the money needed.

Drugs are available in the US that are regularly and effectively used to treat this type of cancer, but they cost about £100,000.

Sisters Terri, aged 20, and Hannah, 17, decided money was not going to stop them saving their mother, and, with the support of father Colin, 56, they launched a campaign called Mend Our Mum.

"She's being assessed at the moment so we don't know which drug she might need yet, we are still waiting to hear which of the two it will be," said Warwick University student Terri. "But they are both so expensive, it's just such a lot of money."

To treat the cancer, Terri and her sister Hannah, who is currently studying at Sir John Deane's Sixth Form College, are hoping to fund either Avastin or Cetuximab chemotherapy, which is available in America.

Terri said: "I know people always exaggerate, but honestly, if you imagine the perfect mum, she is it.

"She's done everything for us when we were growing up, she'd take us to clubs, pick us up after nights out and all sorts.

"She's just amazing. We have quite a big family and my mum is always the one that helps everyone.

"It's had a massive effect on our family, we were all devastated, it was really hard to see my dad so upset when he is usually so funny and outgoing."

So far, though charity events, fun days and donations, the family have raised about £18,000 thanks to support from the village and the local pub the Lord Combermere where both girls work part-time.

Terri said: "It's something for everyone to focus on, and it's so good because all the events have been fun days and I think they've helped to take mum's mind off it.

"She's been doing charity nights for other people for years, and it's been really amazing seeing how many people have been happy to help.

"She's having chemotherapy at the moment, and that's all she can get. She's almost finished the first stage and at that point they assess it to see if it's working.

"But she is handling it so well – she gets a bit tired, and she found it really hard to tell me and my sister to begin with, but she's great."

And for the inspirational mum, it's been more than a little overwhelming.

Mrs Cliffe said: "That is the hardest bit of it all – telling the girls.

"I know I'm lucky in the way that they are 17 and 20, and that they aren't tiny anymore, but it doesn't help things. But I was given just three months to live without treatment – it was devastating."

The drugs are still experimental for treating this type of cancer and are not available in this country or on the NHS.

But with each six month treatment, the drugs could increase her life expectancy.

The family's news comes as people across the country are drawn into the story of youngster Ashya King and his family's battle to get him the right treatment.

The five-year-old was taken from hospital by his parents, Brett and Naghmeh, to a treatment centre in Prague, where he is now beginning proton therapy to treat a brain tumour.

But, the Cliffe family still need to raise another £80,000 before their mum can consider treatment, and are calling on local people to help as much as they can.

Mrs Cliffe said: "It is absolutely overwhelming, it's unbelievable seeing how many people are helping. The bit that gets me is the fact that people are thinking about it in their own homes, they are sat thinking about you all the time.

"My friend and her daughter did a walk up Snowdon – they were constantly thinking about it. To begin with I couldn't bring myself to look at all the messages on the fundraising page.

"But it's just so nice to be part of a village like this. Everybody knows everybody, we've been here for 20 years and the girls have grown up here."

The next event will be a fancy dress walk on October 4 from 11am with a walk around the village beginning at the Lord Combermere. Entry is £5 for adults with children free, for a sponsor form contact help@mendourmum.co.uk and for more information visit www.mendourmum.co.uk on Twitter @mendourmum

To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/cij464