A WOMAN battling bowel cancer hopes to raise enough money for private treatment not currently offered by the NHS.

The Royal Oak pub in Bracknell is helping Tara Cunningham Harris in her fight with Stage 4 bowel cancer by putting on a fundraising event.

Tara was diagnosed in October 2021, a month before her 40th birthday, having to endure 10 rounds of chemotherapy only for it not to work.

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A fundraising page has been set up by her sister Lucy in the hope of raising £5,000, after Tara was advised she'd have to seek alternative treatment.

On Saturday, July 9, The Royal Oak will be putting on a special fundraising event with fun activities, a raffle and auction including a Wendy house called Tara Towers, which Prospect Estate agents in Bracknell have donated.

Tara Towers is listed on the property agents website, Rightmove and Zoopla to help raise further awareness and funds for Tara.

Tara said in her own words: "Since deciding to organise this fundraiser I’ve had a set back. Unfortunately the chemotherapy stopped working and my cancer began progressing again. My last cycle was on April 20 and I have been off treatment since then, exploring alternative options.

"I have been referred for early phase trials at Oxford and have also visited the Drug Development Unit at The Royal Marsden in Sutton to see whether I am eligible for trials there. So far nothing has become available.

"I went for a second opinion at The Royal Marsden in Fulham and met with Professor David Cunningham who is the leading oncologist in colorectal cancer in the UK. Sadly there are no spaces on his NHS patient list so I am hoping to become a private patient.

"Obviously there are cost implications to this. I have also recently had a liquid biopsy with Guardant 360 to better understand the genomic sequencing of my tumour in the hope of discovering more targeted treatments and/or trials. This is not available on the NHS so we have had to cover the cost ourselves.

"Therefore following discussions with The Royal Oak, family and friends I have taken the decision to split all funds raised three ways between Thames Hospice, MacMillan and myself. It is important to me that I am clear and transparent in my intention and I hope I have your continued support."

You can see the listings on Rightmove and Zoopla here :

Visit: https://gofund.me/2e9345ab to donate.