Friends of a “truly amazing, inspiring” young mum living in Wisbech St Mary with “extremely aggressive” facial cancer have raised nearly £3,000 so she can “make ever-lasting memories” with her daughter.
Since being diagnosed with a rare cancer called adenoid cystic carcinoma at the age of 27 in 2014, Jannine Jessica McHaffie has had several operations to remove it.
Although these were successful, and her face has been reconstructed multiple times after losing the upper part of her mouth, she was recently told the cancer had returned and spread.
Jannine was also told by doctors that “there is no cure”.
Jannine’s best friend, Leela Cross, said: “Jannine is a truly amazing young woman who chose to move to Wisbech to be closer to her mum and stepdad and for a fresh start and brighter future for herself and her simply wonderful six-year-old daughter Leylah.
“However fate unfortunately had other ideas and now she is having to make preparations for her little girl’s future without her mummy being in it.
“Take a minute to read their heartbreaking story and if you can, then please help us to raise funds for them to make some amazing memories before Jannine’s time comes and to help make little Leylah’s future a little more comfortable.”
The GoFundMe page, which is called Janine’s Dream, was set up by Daniel Jackson, of March, earlier this year. It has so far raised £2,697 – just under half of the £6,000 total goal.
The page reads: “We are close friends of Jannine’s and have decided to do whatever we can where we can to help and aid Jannine through this extremely tough time.
“We will be holding several fundraising events to help raise money to enable Jannine to make ever lasting memories with Leylah and to try and give her a little nest egg to take the pressure off of Jannine.
“To say she has a tough time is putting it mildly. The operations to remove the cancer were deemed successful and bravely she has faced multiple attempts to reconstruct her face after losing the upper part of her mouth.
“Everyone that knows Jannine will appreciate how hard this has been for her and her daughter. Jannine has now found out that the cancer is not only back but it is in so many places that there is no cure.
“Jannine is in a bit of pain. The pain of knowing she will be leaving her little girl Leylah without her mum at such a young age is unbearable.
“Let’s come together and make a real difference for Jannine and Leylah.”
The money raised will go towards helping Jannine and Leylah making as many memories together before it is too late and towards a financial trust for Leylah’s future.
Jannine said on Facebook: “Thank you everyone so much for doing all this for us.
“I’m so overwhelmed by this lovely village. I can’t tell you. Love you all.”
Keliegh Fenn, who lives in Wisbech St Mary but works at the North London Skydiving Centre in Wimblington, is one of the people helping fundraise.
She said: “To be honest with you I don’t know Janine too well, but Leela is a good friend of mine and the village has all come together for this girl who is going to be leaving her six-year-old little girl behind.”
A fundraising coffee morning was held at The Red Lion pub in North Brink, Wisbech, yesterday.
To donate via the GoFundMe page visit www.gofundme.com/janninecanfundr
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