A Wirral mum diagnosed with terminal cancer on Valentine's Day this year will be team leader at a raft race for a charity supporting people with the disease.
Helen Prior, from Bromborough, took herself to A&E in December last year after suffering from severe abdominal pain.
After a whirlwind of CT scans and medications, an unidentified mass in her abdomen was discovered and surgery was required.
Heartbreakingly, on February 14, after surgeon's reviewed the results of the surgery, Helen was given the devastating news that her cancer had spread and is too far advanced for treatment to have a long-lasting effect.
Due to the rarity of Helen's cancer, the oncology team cannot predict how it will respond to chemotherapy and therefore Helen’s prognosis is unclear. It is terminal and she could have a year; or she could have six years.
Helen, operations manager at Kangaroo Self Storage, is taking part in the Chester Raft Race for Maggie’s Centre Wirral.
The charity provides free support and information to anyone in the UK that has been affected by cancer in their lives, either themselves or people close to them. Helen has taken advantage of this support that Maggie's and hopes to raise as much funds as possible to say thank you.
On Sunday, July 3, Helen and Kangaroo will take part in the Chester Raft Race to raise more money for Maggie's. The race starts at 10am that day and is being held at The Meadows, River Dee, Chester, CH1 1SZ.
To support the team's fundraising efforts, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kangarooselfstorage
The theme this year for Chester Raft Race is 100 years of British Television, and Helen has chosen the '90s comedy Father Ted to be their theme. Helen, 33 is married to Dan and they have a two-year-old son, Rory.
She said: "I first attended my local Maggie's Centre in Wirral after my initial diagnosis and originally began attending just for the relaxation classes.
"I found that after my first hospital stays, I suffered from panic attacks because COVID meant most of my appointments had to be conducted alone.
"Maggie's relaxation classes have become a great tool to help me remain calm in my everyday life."
Helen Prior with husband Dan and their two-year-old son, Rory
Chris Stevens, chief executive of Kangaroo Self Storage said: "Helen is a much-loved colleague. She has worked for us since April 2010, starting as a part time store assistant in our Bromborough store during her university years.
"However, she caught the 'self-storage' bug and never left and what was always meant to be a part-time job became a full-time career. Helen has worked in all the Northwest stores over the years and knows the stores better than anyone.
"The news of her terminal cancer diagnosis has left everyone heartbroken.
"When Helen told us she wanted to fundraise for Maggie's, we were not surprised, and we want her to know we are right behind her.
"We have adopted Maggie’s Centres as our corporate charity, and we will be holding several fundraisers. We’re all looking forward to the Raft Race at the weekend."
The Raft Race will not be Helen’s first fundraiser. In May Helen took part in a walk-up Snowdon in Wales with husband Dan, and his dental practice team, from the Dant-Y-Coed Dental Practice.
They raised more than £3,000, completely outstripping their £1K target and they are not stopping there.
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