One minute Joanna James was relaxing on a sun lounger, enjoying a holiday with her partner to celebrate her 50th birthday – and the next, she was unable to speak, being cared for in hospital and diagnosed with incurable brain cancer.
After extensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy back home in Yorkshire, there was nothing more the NHS could do and she was given just 12-18 months to live.
That was in September, but six months later she is beginning immunotherapy treatment in Germany which it is hoped will extend her life – and her family and friends are helping her fundraise to cover the £100,000 cost.
Joanna, from Ilkley, has raised almost £38,000 through an online fundraiser and her brother Sam is training to run the length of the 190-mile (305.7km) Coast to Coast path to raise even more.