Help make every day special for inspirational Derbyshire teen after 'devastating' cancer diagnosis

Rachel Richardson was told she had osteosarcoma, a cancer located in her chest wall, at the age of just 16.

After gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and 12 hours of surgery to remove the tumour last year, scans confirmed her family’s worst nightmare that the cancer had spread to Rachel’s lungs.

Rachel’s mum Sarah said she was ‘devastated’ that her ‘amazing, inspirational’ daughter has been faced with such a cruel year of misfortune.

The family, who live in Clowne, has now pledged to ‘make every day special’ for Rachel by launching an online fundraiser – and say the response has been ‘overwhelming’.

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Sarah said: “Rachel is not one to sit around and feel sorry for herself. She has enrolled on a make-up course, and she is wanting to do some travelling while she is well.

“As we are all aware everything has a cost and many people have asked how they can help, so as a family, we have decided to ask for donations which will help Rachel to make the best of the time she has.”

Rachel was first diagnosed with osteosarcoma in May 2019 and doctors initially said surgery was not an option for her.

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However, after seeking a second opinion, and to the family’s ‘great relief’, a surgeon in London said he could remove the tumour and surgery took place on January 8.

Sarah said: “After a gruelling 12 hours, we were told that the tumour was out with clear margins, but we couldn't celebrate.

“A scan, the day before the surgery, indicated there were suspicious nodules in Rachel's lungs.

“After a further three-week wait, and, as Rachel was smashing her recovery, we were told that the cancer was in her lungs.

“Devastated is not the word, this amazing, inspirational young girl is not catching a break. Last week, we were informed that the cancer is not curable, and although there are a few things to try in an attempt to stabilise her disease, the prognosis isn't great.”

Due to the number of people in the community asking how they could help, Sarah, Rachel’s dad Matthew and her sister Gemma set up a GoFundMe page to raise money and ‘help Rachel to make the best of the time she has’.

And they say the response has been ‘phenomenal’, already prompting the family to raise the target to £10,000.

The total has already passed £7,000, and Sarah says: “We are absolutely overwhelmed by all of your kindness and generosity. Never did any of us expect this and there aren't enough words to say how grateful we are. It certainly looks like Rachel will be living her life to the max.”

Any money which Rachel does not spend will be donated to cancer charities.

To help Rachel and her family, visit the GoFundMe page here to make a donation.