Dear Family and Friends, 

I have decided to make a difference by taking part in the ‘You Are Beautiful’ Fundraising Photographic Exhibition to raise funds for Cancer Support WA. Cancer Support WA helps individuals and families dealing with Cancer by providing support services and the only 24 hour Cancer Support phone line in Australia.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL is a unique photographic exhibition and book project celebrating the life and stories of people touched by cancer. Organised by Cancer Support WA in partnership with master photographer Janet Craig and other sponsors, the purpose of You are Beautiful is to bring awareness to the untold stories of people with cancer, and to raise funds for Cancer Support WA.

Through here you can easily support my efforts by sponsoring my portrait, by making a secure donation online. I would also really appreciate it if you could share my page above or comment below so more people know about it.

Click 'Donate Now' to make a secure online donation. 

All donations over $2 are tax deductible and you will be issued with a DGR receipt via email as soon as you make a donation, which can be used at Tax time.

Cancer Support WA is hoping to raise $200,000.00. Your donation will help us reach this goal and the images will be displayed in a public exhibition in 2016. Details of the exhibition will be emailed to you closer to the date.

Please find below the story behind my image.

Thank you for your support!

MY STORY

Cancer has affected my life dramatically.

Two years has passed since the death of my mum and with each day I still mourn and miss her.

For three years my mum battled lung cancer and I watched her slow decline and fierce battle with the disease and the awful side effects that the drugs and treatments caused. It spread from her lungs into her lymph nodes. Mum battled radiation burns, illness from chemotherapy, fatigue, insomnia, endless blood tests, bad tasting tablets, waiting in doctor rooms and friends not know what to say so they just stay away.

This was done with dignity, humour and a large amount of stubbornness.

My mum was a very talented heritage quilter who not only taught but also continuously made charity quilts to donate to different aid projects such as the Queensland fires, Cyclone Lau, Fremantle Hospital Oncology ward and even made quilt for orphans in Brazil. Having collected an enormous amount of material and quilting paraphernalia mum bequeathed it all to the local craft club, and only asked if quilts could be made and sent to PMH so the children could be warm and comfortable.

The day of mum death still haunts me now, I held her hands and watched her eyes fill with fear and then the final acceptance of the fate that was about to happen.

I made the decision for Mum to stay at home and not be move to hospital. The doctors were in and out all morning monitoring Mum. They poked and prodded. Mum finally began to relax when the doctors were leaving; we had the radio on; the wood fire slowly burning, I sat at her feet, holding her hand listening to her struggled breathing as she fell asleep and then heard her last breathe leave her body. My  Mum died in my arms.

There are things that we don’t want to happen

 but have to accept

Things we don’t want to know

 but have to learn

And people we can’t live without

 but have to let go

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I know my story is just one of the thousands that are happening each day but hopefully with funding a cure can be found.

THANK YOU,

Natasha Sparkes