Helston charity helps terminally ill woman

10:27am Tuesday 20th May 2008

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A Helston charity is helping ensure the family of a terminally ill Camborne woman will always remember a planned holiday of a lifetime.

Friends and family of cancer sufferer Denise Johns, of Pengegon, have been helping raise the money needed to send Denise, her husband Phil and their three adopted children on a memorable trip to Disneyland, Florida.

Now Helston-based Cancer Funding for Cornwall is ensuring they will have plenty of happy memories to look back on in future years by donating a video camera to the family.

Denise, 40, and Phil, 46, tried for 20 years to have children without success. Two years ago, after months of form-filling and interviews, they came home with not one but three children.

But the family's world fell apart a year ago when Denise was diagnosed with cancer of the stomach. She underwent major surgery last December, but was then devastated to be told the operation had been unsuccessful.

On hearing the news, friends and family set up the Denise Johns Dream Fund, organising various money-spinning events to cover the cost of the trip to Disneyland.

Denise said: "It will be amazing to do something so special and give the children a wonderful memory. It will be the first time we have been abroad and we would never be able to afford it ourselves. It really would be the holiday of a lifetime."

Fundraising events are continuing, with a raffle, auction and disco at Redruth rugby club planned for May 31 and a boat disco from Falmouth to Truro on July 19.