This year, Felixstowe Port Users’ Association (FPUA) is raising life-critical funds to support Sadie Ray – an inspirational and resilient Felixstowe woman – wife to Steven and mum to daughters Olivia, aged six and Isabella, who is just three – in her battle against cancer.
With previous medical interventions failing to date, Sadie is now on her next life-saving venture – a clinical trial with Sarah Cannon Research Institute.
A world-leading clinical trials facility specialising in developing new therapies and precision medication for cancer patients, Sarah Cannon Research UK, is the first unit outside the NHS to offer new anti-cancer drugs in clinical trials.
As a member of our local logistics industry, can you help fund Sadie’s life-extending clinical trial?
Sadie’s Story
In July 2020, Sadie was initially diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary and given a few months to live. Shaken to the core by this prognosis and seeking a second opinion, new hope was restored, and Sadie embarked on twelve rounds of chemotherapy. A second biopsy confirmed that she had a germ cell tumour – curable cancer – and she was referred to a specialist in London.
Sadie started a new regime that included a further six rounds of chemotherapy, followed by two stem cell transplants. She had to stay in a London hospital for a month at a time – in isolation without seeing her children, husband, or any other family or friends. The hope was to have surgery to remove the tumour. However, a further scan showed a spread of cancer to the liver, and the surgery was cancelled.
Her oncologist recommended a tumour sample be sent to Caris in America for a DNA sequencing test, as understanding her cancer at a molecular level might give a more targeted therapy, which would have to be self-funded by Sadie and her family.
In the meantime, she was given further chemotherapy to help manage the spread of cancer. But with her body struggling to recover, this treatment was halted.
The results from Caris returned, recommending immunotherapy called pembrolizumab, again giving renewed hope. This treatment wasn’t available to Sadie on the NHS, but thankfully a charity stepped in and sponsored Sadie’s medication.
Feeling good, Sadie had hoped this would be the final key to unlocking success. Unfortunately, further scans showed liver progression, and she was taken off the medication. And whilst the charity had to cease funding Sadie, she continued extensive fundraising for them with the help of friends, family, local charities, and organisations.
With options running out, AstraZeneca came forward to sponsor a medication called ‘Olaparbib’, again giving hope to Sadie and her family. But sadly, this was deemed not to be helping after just two rounds.
Bringing us up to the present day and with the team at Charing Cross Hospital running out of options, only two possibilities remain. Look for a new clinical trial or accept the end-of-life status.
More determined than ever, Sadie has begun a phase 1 (never before tested on humans) clinical trial with The Sarah Canon Institute Research team in Harley Street, embarking on another medical journey.
How You Can Help
- Provide raffle prizes for the FPUA Christmas Charity Ball, The Orwell Hotel, 2nd December 2022. Contact info@fpua.co.uk to arrange the collection of your gift.
- Give generously throughout the evening. Raffle tickets are £10 each, cash only, please.
- Donate money for Sadie’s clinical trial; all donations are gratefully received. Account details for donations: Felixstowe Port Users Association Ltd | Sort code 20-98-07 | Account No 30958344. All monies raised will go to the Sarah Cannon Research Institute so they can continue their research and fund treatment.