Cheshire

A north west mum with extremely rare cancer is fundraising after ‘devastating’ news

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 27th December 2021

A Cheshire mum who has been diagnosed with a rare type of cancer has launched a fundraising campaign to fund new treatment.

Rachel Coram, 27, is hoping to undergo immunotherapy treatment that could give her the ‘greatest timeframe’ to spend with her family.

The mum of one says she recently received the ‘devastating news’ that the drugs company won’t fund the treatment for her – leaving her to raise the £100,000 cost herself.

She has now launched a GoFund Me campaign, named Unique Sense of Tumour, which has already raised more than £60,000 at the time of writing.

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Rachel, from Poynton, says that ‘time has started to tick a little faster’ in the year since she was diagnosed with Advanced Sclerosing Fibromixoid Sarcoma.

She was told that tumours had been found in her spine, breast, stomach, knee, neck, liver and lungs on Christmas Eve last year, Cheshire Live reports.

Rachel says she’s one of the only people in the UK with her type of Sarcoma cancer, meaning the treatment options available ‘haven’t changed in the last 40 years’.

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In her fundraising campaign, she writes: “As most of you will know I’m Rach. I was diagnosed with Advanced Sclerosing Fibromixoid Sarcoma in Dec 2020.

“I never wanted a ‘diagnosis time frame’ as I have always tried to as positive as possible… it’s nearly been a year of different types of treatments and medicines and time has started to tick a little faster.

“Sarcomas are so rare that treatment options for them haven’t changed in the last 40 years! My oncologist has explained to me many times that the chemotherapy options available won’t be very successful for my type of Sarcoma, however there is the option to try Immunotherapy.

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“He has had the discussion with the Royal Marsden and they have seen some positive results with this line of treatment.

“I however, recently received the devastating news that the drugs company will not fund immunotherapy as a treatment option for me.

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“They have said that there are alternative (cheaper) routes I could explore first… When we all know those options won’t be as successful or give me the greatest timeframe & I obviously want a lifetime and more with my little family. The treatment to self fund is £100,000.

“I would be so forever grateful for any kind of help or donation to try get us to this goal & allow me to try this treatment to give me as long as I can or you never know, maybe even cure me.

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“Thank you, Rach, David and Indie x”

You can donate towards Rachel’s immunotherapy treatment at GoFundMe here.

Featured image: GoFundMe

Cheshire

Chester Zoo shares video of ‘rare’ baby giraffe falling 6ft to the ground as it’s born

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Cameras and Chester Zoo have captured the moment a rare baby giraffe made its entrance into the world this past weekend.

And it’s fair to say, he certainly burst onto the scene.

In a birth that’s unlike many others and appeared to shock the surrounding long-legged residents, Chester Zoo has shared a video of the adorable new giraffe calf falling more than 6ft onto a bed of soft straw as he arrived into the world, after 14-year-old mum, Orla, gave birth last Saturday at 2:57am – which brought to an end to a 15 month-long (473 day) pregnancy

The incredible CCTV footage also shows the moment the newborn stands up and takes his very first steps and enjoys his first feed – a moment zookeepers say is “vitally important” for the bond between mum and baby.

Chester Zoo’s giraffe team manager Sarah Roffe explained that, while it may sound unusual, this 6ft-high fall is “a really important part of the birthing process” for giraffes, as it’s what helps to break the umbilical cord and stimulate the calf to take its very first breath.

“While tiny in comparison to mum Orla, her new arrival was born already towering above us at 6ft tall and weighing a hefty 72kg,” Sarah added.

She continued: “Following the dramatic birth, it’s vitally important that the calf gets to its feet quickly and ventures over to mum for its first feed, as it’s these precious early moments that help to cement that special bond between the two of them – and that’s exactly what occurred between Orla and her baby only minutes after his birth.

“It’s early days, but so far the calf is looking strong, healthy and very content, which is brilliant to see.”

Keepers at the UK’s biggest charity zoo have named the new male giraffe calf Stanley after Mount Stanley, which is the tallest mountain in Uganda in Africa.

Chester Zoo cameras captured the moment a rare baby giraffe made its entrance into the world / Credit: Chester Zoo

Uganda is where the zoo’s conservationists are fighting to boost giraffe numbers.

Right across Africa, giraffes are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – which is the world’s authority on the state of the natural world – and although Rothschild’s giraffe numbers are now increasing due to conservation efforts, fewer than 2,500 remain in East Africa.

Read more: Chester Zoo to stay open after hours so you can see the nocturnal animals

As their habitats have been lost to make way for mining, urban development, or agricultural farming, as well as poaching for their skin, tails, or meat, Rothschild’s giraffes are now considered one of Africa’s most at-risk mammals.

However, Chester Zoo says that in some parts of Uganda – where the zoo and its partners are actively working – numbers are steadily on the rise, and it’s thanks to decades of conservation efforts.

Keepers have named the new male giraffe calf Stanley / Credit: Chester Zoo

“Having a healthy new calf on the ground here at the zoo is therefore fantastic news for the threatened species breeding programme that’s boosting numbers in conservation zoos like ours,” added Mike Jordan – Director of Animals and Plants at Chester Zoo.

“In tandem with the breeding programme, our team of giraffe experts have been helping our long term partners… to protect, monitor and, in some cases, translocate giraffes from one area of Uganda to another.

Read more: Rare ‘handsome’ tiger arrives at Chester Zoo to save his species

Just over two decades ago the number of giraffes in Kidepo Valley National Park was in single digits, but with these conservation efforts it’s now a protected reserve that’s home to more than 70 adult Rothschild’s giraffes, with calves being born year on year.

“This is just one of the many successful conservation stories that our charity zoo is proud to be part of and really shows that there are good people out there fighting to save species from extinction.”

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

Cheshire

Police find drugs hidden at several pubs and bars in Alderley Edge and Wilmslow

The Manc The Manc

Cheshire Police has confirmed that officers have recovered drugs from several bars in Alderley Edge and Wilmslow.

As part of what is an ongoing operation to target recreational drug use across the region, on Saturday 30 July, officers from the Macclesfield local policing unit, with support from the Special Constabulary and police drugs dog, conducted checks at seven bars in the two affluent Cheshire towns.

Bubble Room, and Parea on London Road in Alderley Edge were searched, as well as The Grove, The Freemasons, Victors, Revolution, and Olivers in Wilmslow, police confirmed.

In Alderley Edge, three bags of Class A drugs were found inside the men’s toilets in the Bubble Room, and then, when the police drugs dog walked past Parea on the same road, two small bags of class A drugs were located and recovered.

Parea and The Bubble Room are two of the bars where drugs were recovered from / Credit: Parea and The Bubble Room (via Facebook)

The police dog searched the toilets in The Grove in Wilmslow and located drugs, and then, while officers were in the Freemasons, drugs were also recovered from behind a cushion.

“The checks we conducted showed there were some signs of recreational drug use and I want to make the public aware that this police activity will continue to be carried out unexpectedly,” explained Inspector Andy Baker, of Macclesfield local policing unit.

“It’s clear that we’re regularly pursuing the organised criminals who profit from the illegal supply of class A and class B drugs, however we also want to make the public aware of the wider implications that are caused by recreational drug use – including how you are playing a part in a criminal enterprise and assisting in fuelling the lavish lifestyle of organised crime.”

Cheshire Police conducted checks at seven bars / Credit: Cheshire Constabulary

Inspector Baker also added that anyone who is aware of and may have seen drug activity taking place should let Cheshire Police know on the website here. 

You can also report it anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Featured Image – Google Maps

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