R8000 raised at hats and heels fundraiser

INSPIRING Women Network Upper Highway franchise held a hats and heels fundraiser tea to celebrate and commemorate the wonderful life of Jess Nicholson at Talloula’s in Botha’s Hill on Thursday 10 April.

Jess’s world was rocked to the core in February last year. As she sat on a beach having birthday drinks with a friend, she suffered a massive seizure. She was diagnosed with a brain tumour the following week and had to undergo brain surgery on Valentine’s Day, only to discover she had an incurable form of brain cancer.

Since then, she had been fighting as hard as she could, going for chemotherapy, radiation, had diet changes, taking supplements and tried every other alternative under the sun.

She wrote in her blog page that she had two beautiful children, aged two and four, and a soul mate who really wanted her to live. Last August after she completed her chemotherapy, her first MRI revealed no new growth and significant improvement in brain swelling.

She thought she was winning, but early December the tumour returned along with another one and both had increased its size. She immediately set about plan B, which was going to a cutting edge clinic in Texas, USA. It was controversial, experimental and only at times successful.

She wrote considering her oncologist and neurosurgeon had no more answers for her, she had no choice but to try plan B. Her medical aid did not cover the procedure, so her family and friends began to raise funds through the blog page.

Jess’s medical bills escalated, but sadly on the morning of 22 March, at the tender age of 30, Jess lost her battle, leaving behind her husband, Simon, and two children, Joel and Anna.

The Inspiring Women Network Upper Highway franchise decided to continue with the fundraiser to celebrate Jess’s life and to raise funds to assist with the medical bills that are still outstanding.

The hats and heels fundraiser at Talloula’s raised R8000 which will be donated to the Nicholson family to assist with medical bills.

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