Raising awareness of pancreatic cancer

Abi with her late mum Anne, brother Alex and nephew Oakley.

Abi Tilley, 22, says she lost ‘her best friend’ when her mum, Anne Tilley, died in October, aged 56, after a six-week battle with pancreatic cancer.

Anne worked in Sleaford at North Kesteven District Council’s planning department.

Now, Abi says she wants to do all she can to raise awareness of the disease – including running the London Marathon for Pancreatic Cancer UK next year.

“GPs call it the silent killer,” Abi said of pancreatic cancer. “This is because the symptoms are often just put down to back ache or arthritis and, in most cases, it’s often too late once diagnosed.

“Most cases survive around three to six months after diagnosis but for my mum it was sadly just one month.”

To take part in the London Marathon next year, Abi, who moved from Boston to Sleaford in July, will need to raise £2,500. You can support her by visiting her Virgin Moneygiving page at http://tinyurl.com/znzcwd7.

“My mum was everything to me and it’s so hard and lonely living a life without her,” Abi said. “I’m running in memory of her and for all the other purple angels who have sadly lost their lives and for the families they left behind.”