Cash for Pash - What a fighter!

Sarah Howells, aka Pash, is planning to do a "lifetime's frolicking" in the coming months. In June last year she was diagnosed with breast cancer and it has since spread to eight tumours in her brain.

Her prognosis, as of December, is between 18 and 24 months. She is just 35 years old. But Pash believes in Positive Mental Attitude, which is why her blog, charting the ups and downs of her journey with cancer, is entitled Me and My PMA.

She has been through a mastectomy - which she cheerfully describes as her "boobectomy" - chemotherapy, drugs treatment and radiotherapy, but she has retained her sense of humour and positivity throughout, despite the inevitably dark moments.

Pash has also been incredibly honest in her blog, charting her "wobbles" in full, complete with "snot bubbles" and tears. She even admits that she likes "wowing and inspiring people with my positivity and ability to deal with this like it's nuffink, mostly".

"If I say I am happy, not in pain, feeling great etc, then that's how I am. If I feel crap, or down, then that's the answer you'll get," she writes at one point.

Pash freely admits to feeling angry about her diagnosis at times, questioning the fairness of the situation. But she continues to keep a PMA.

"Everyone is going to die. It just brings a bit of clarity to matters when you are 35 and there is a timeline on it. So it makes you think of what you want to do before you go," she writes.

"And you know what I am learning about myself? There isn't an awful lot on the list! I have a great life, the best man in the world, the best friends, and the best family.

"I have no desire to go abseiling, potholing or that crazy stuff people seem to want to go when they know they are going to die. I just want more of the same, purlease."

More of the same has included fundraising for cancer charity Tenovus, which works to prevent, treat and help find a cure for the disease. The organisation has been responsible for some vital discoveries, such as Tamoxifen, which is now the world's most successful breast cancer drug. The scientists which developed this medication were funded by Tenovus.

Pash arranged a fundraising event on The Pier in her home town of Bournemouth on October 10th last year - a night of "drinking, dancing and cavorting" which raised £4,732.77 for the charity.

And she has ambitions, namely to get a little cottage in the country where she can "make fudge and have beautiful and useful things".

Her friends and family have ambitions for her too. They want to make 2010 as fantastic as possible for her and are calling for donations to send her on a very special holiday with her boyfriend.

Pash's best friend, Sarah-Jane Southern, has set up an account called Cash for Pash.

In the meantime, Pash will continue with her PMA and no doubt live life to the full, planning some "frickin' fantastic" times. In her own words: "Watch out people, it gets messy from here."

Well-wishers can donate to the fund using the following details:

Account holder: Sarah-Jane Southern
Sort Code: 11-18-11
Account Number: 31130719
Account REF: Cash for Pash

By Chris Slay