Rachel spends time with her family at Port Lympne Wildlife Park
Rachel, 36, from Preston was diagnosed with breast cancer when her children were just three and four years old. Willow organised a special weekend at Port Lympne Safari Park so they could enjoy stress-free time together as a family.
“We had been looking forward to our weekend away for weeks. We made precious memories that will last a lifetime.”
Rachel’s story
“Having a primary diagnosis of breast cancer when my children were just three and four years old turned our world upside down. Receiving a second cancer diagnosis only nine months later had another immense impact on myself and our family.
“I was a student nurse and received no financial help as I had to withdraw from the course and I struggled to access benefits. My husband had just started a new job and the pressure on him – becoming the main caregiver to our children (and me) in addition to providing for our family – was huge. Looking back, I’m not sure how we managed to get through the dark days.
“I have worked hard to rebuild my life and remain as positive as I can. All I want is to see my children grow into adults. Treatment is working well but carrying a cancer diagnosis is still a big burden.”
Weekend away at the Safari Park
“We had been looking forward to our special weekend for weeks. I had always wanted to visit the wildlife park, but we couldn’t afford to go. The children both love animals, so it was the perfect place for us as a family to relax and unwind.
“The main highlight was staying over and having access to the park after hours in a little buggy. We had so much fun driving round and watching the wild animals. The lions were particularly fascinating, they were really close, it was like a dream.”
“Time is precious and making memories means the world.”
“The whole process was stress-free and straightforward; we would like to thank everybody at Willow for providing this opportunity and making it possible.”
Willow provides special experiences for seriously ill young adults, like Rachel. Donate today to help more families create lasting memories.