A PETERSFIELD mum and her husband have bravely bared their souls to try to help her raise urgently-needed money for what is thought could be life-saving treatment.

Wendy Wilson was told just before Christmas a cancer tumour she had for the past 17 years had suddenly become aggressive and she urgently needed treatment before the end of January – just three weeks away.

So far half of the £60,000 needed has been raised, but now it’s a race against time as the life limiting cancer tumour keeps growing.

She was told if it continues getting bigger she will lose the power of speech and the ability so swallow – this would stop her eating and drinking, and impact on her breathing.

In a joint interview for the Post and Petersfield Community Radio, aimed at raising awareness of her plight, Wendy said she was told on December 11 there was no NHS treatment available.

The mother to Mollie and Josh and wife to Grant was told the radio therapy treatment she needed was newly available at a private hospital near Reading – at a cost of £60,000.

The Wilsons, who live off The Causeway in Petersfield, have been part of the Petersfield Rugby Club ‘family’ for more than ten years and their friends in the club launched a fundraising drive.

Wendy, aged 54, said: “Everyone at the rugby club and in the town has been fantastic and so far about £30,000 has been raised.

“But it was very, very hard coming out and talking about this publicly.

“Ever since I was diagnosed it has been a very private matter, something I haven’t spoken about other than to family and close friends.

“When the tumour affected my hearing, I just said it was natural deafness – I didn’t want to make a thing out of it.”

Grant added: “Yes, it was very hard telling everyone about it – this isn’t who we are naturally, we just get on with things.

“But we couldn’t raise the money so as a family we agreed to do this – to do the very best for Wendy, not to let her down because we are too shy to say we need help.

“And the response has been amazing – we’ve been overwhelmed.”

Wendy, who was the rugby club steward, and is still the club’s safeguarding officer, added: “It’s been very humbling – there’s no real way we can adequately express our thanks for the amount raised so far.”

But although almost half the money need has been raised through donations, there is still some way to go

Mollie, who is running the social media side of the appeal, added: “I’m hopeful we can make it, but we have only a few weeks to raise enough so mum can be treated.”

To find out more about Wendy’s battle against Myxoid Chondrosarcoma cancer, and to donate, visit the web page www.gofundme.com/tackling-wendys-cancer