Woman with terminal cancer raises £128k for NHS

Tracie Mills, from Rugby, set up the Arden Angels fundraising group as a way of giving something back to the NHS which has looked after her during her 11 years of treatment.

The 54-year-old mother said she was "really proud" and "never dreamed" they would raise so much money.

Nickie Brightwell, who nominated Tracie for the BBC CWR award, described her friend as "totally selfless".

Nickie and Tracie with some of the Arden Angels. Three of the women wear pink T-shirts with white letters on them related to being Arden Angels while Nickie, on the left, wears a floral dress as does Ms Mills in the centre. They stand in a back garden in front of fence panels

Ms Mills was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in 2013, a breast cancer that starts inside the milk ducts.

She has undergone a double mastectomy and years of chemotherapy.

While having treatment, she was inspired to raise £1,000 for a chemotherapy chair.

The reclining chairs are designed with wider arms to allow for easier insertion of drips and can also have USB ports so patients can charge devices to watch films or listen to music while having treatment.

With the help of her friends she set up a skydiving challenge and quickly smashed her target.

The Arden Angels was born and the fundraising continued with head shaves, garden parties and a Strictly-themed night.

Part of the money paid for 20 chemotherapy chairs at the Arden Centre in Coventry.

Cancer patient and fellow Arden Angel, Sam Pooler, 46, said the chairs make chemotherapy as "comfortable as it can be".

Sam Pooler sitting in a chemotherapy chair. She wears a pink T-shirt with "I'm an original Arden Angel" written on it. The chair she sits in has grey padding and is in front of a grey wall with several power sockets visible in the wall

Sam Pooler is undergoing treatment for secondary breast cancer

The funds have also helped to bring breast cancer services back to the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby.

Jo O'Sullivan, director of the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Charity, said what Ms Mills had achieved was "phenomenal".

Ms Mills was told just before the coronavirus pandemic that her cancer was terminal after it had spread to other parts of her body.

She received her last round of treatment on 9 July and said she does not know how long she has left.

But she leaves behind a legacy that will help cancer patients in Rugby and Coventry for years to come.

The winners of BBC CWR's Make a Difference awards will be announced at a ceremony on 8 September at The Slate, Warwick University.

-BBC