Louise's memory honoured with a £10,000 donation

The family of a young woman from Bashall Eaves who died of a rare form of ovarian cancer have donated £10,000 from her memorial fund to help fund more research into treatment for the condition which claimed her life.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Mar 2017, 10:40 BST
Updated 24th Mar 2017, 10:51 BST
Sarah Hartley and Bridget Mashiter presenting their cheque to The Eve Appeal at the Houses of Parliament. (s)Sarah Hartley and Bridget Mashiter presenting their cheque to The Eve Appeal at the Houses of Parliament. (s)
Sarah Hartley and Bridget Mashiter presenting their cheque to The Eve Appeal at the Houses of Parliament. (s)

Louise Hartley, a well-loved member of the farming community and journalist at the Farmer’s Guardian, died at the age of 24, after a short battle with her illness. Donations flooded in after Louise’s death, leading her family to set up the Louise Hartley Memorial Fund in her memory.

Speaking on behalf of Louise’s family, her sister Bridget Mashiter said: “We have been overwhelmed and touched with donations since Louise sadlypassed away last July.

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“People from the local community and across the country have raised money in a manner of ways, including head shaves, cycle rides, promise auctions, bake sales, leg waxing and too many more to mention. Liz and John Lawson and Anthony Jackson donated a pedigree Holstein calf that was raffled off at Carlisle Auction and raised more than £10,000.“We want to take this opportunity to thank all those who have donated; it is Louise’s kind nature and passion for agriculture that have inspired people tofundraise and donate. We hope that we can maintain her memory and prevent other families from suffering as we have. March is ovarian cancer month and we really want to urge women to look out for and be aware of the symptoms.“By supporting the work of The Eve Appeal at Cambridge University we, as a family, will endeavour to continue the battle against cancer on Louise’sbehalf.”

The Eve Appeal is the only UK national charity raising awareness and funding research into the five gynaecological cancers and is currently supportingthe Small Cell Ovarian Cancer Project, a collaboration between researchers at Cambridge University and University College, London.

The research project, led by Dr Marc Tischkowitz of Cambridge University and Prof. Martin Widschwendter of UCL, aims to develop an InternationalResearch Collaboration and Patient Registry which will provide a necessary foundation for effective research into the small cell cancer. Small cell is a rare but important type of ovarian cancer that predominantly affects young women, with an average age of 24 years at diagnosis and often a poor prognosis. It represents less than 1% of all ovarian cancer diagnosis, with fewer than 300 cases reported.