Laura Potter, a 35-year-old mother of two from Bromsgrove, is urgently raising funds to secure specialist cancer treatment in Germany for her mother, Christine Woodus, 60, who has been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. The family is hoping to raise up to £100,000 to cover treatment at the Hallwang Clinic in Hallwangen, which they believe could "potentially increase her life significantly or even possibly cure her".
This latest health crisis follows a devastating pattern of cancer within the family. Laura's father, Steven, died from a brain tumour at the age of 46. Just 18 months later, her brother, Jake Nightingale, died from leukaemia in 2016 at the age of 22. Laura later collected Jake's University of Birmingham degree in his honour and named her youngest son after him.
A Family Devastated by Cancer
Speaking to BirminghamLive, Laura described her desperation: "I'm desperate to save my mum. Imagine losing your whole family by 35?"
Laura has left her role as a recruitment manager, a position she held for 12 years, to become Christine's full-time carer. The family has set up a GoFundMe page to generate the necessary funds for the treatment.
Laura explained the difference in treatment options available in the UK compared to the German clinic: "In the UK, if you have cancer you'll get the first line treatment to treat that particular cancer. But at a clinic we found in Germany, they remove part of the tumour and test it to see what sort of treatment responds to your specific gene mutation."
Seeking Life-Saving Treatment Abroad
The family's hope is that the personalised approach offered at the Hallwang Clinic will provide a chance for Christine that standard NHS treatment may not offer. The clinic's method involves analysing the genetic makeup of the tumour to identify the most effective treatment for the individual patient.
The fundraising target of £100,000 reflects the significant cost of such specialised care, which is not available on the NHS. Laura's decision to become her mother's full-time carer underscores the severity of the situation and the family's commitment to finding a way forward.
Community Support and Next Steps
The GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help bridge the financial gap, and the family is appealing to the public for support. Every donation brings Christine closer to potentially life-extending or curative treatment.
The family remains hopeful that the treatment in Germany could make a significant difference. Laura's story highlights the emotional and financial toll that cancer can take on families, and her plea is a testament to her determination not to lose another loved one to the disease.
