Brona was in her early forties and felt fit and healthy when she was diagnosed with Oesophageal Cancer.

Having suffered from heartburn all her life, it was only when she started passing blood that she felt that something was not right and decided to see a doctor, assuming it was a bleeding ulcer.

“Oesophageal Cancer? Sure, I couldn’t even spell it,” explains Brona now. “I knew nothing about Oesophageal Cancer, yet here I was being told I would need urgent surgery and my life would never be the same again. It was so shocking."

This year, Brona is 16 years an Oesophageal Cancer survivor.

She credits the expert care that she received from her doctors and nurses and the support that she got through the Oesophageal Cancer Fund for helping her through.

"At the end of the day, people are so good. And it is that goodness that will find a cure. And we will win the fight!"

Holly was a young, healthy and active music teacher who loved to play hockey  when she was diagnosed with stage 4, terminal Oesophageal Cancer at just 26 years old. Determined to continue fighting, Holly was accepted into a clinical research trial where after 3 months, her cancer was no longer present.

“The only reason that I’m still alive today is because of research into this cancer which is funded by charities like the OCF. The work that you do in fundraising for the OCF has very tangible, real effects in the everyday lives of people like me. Thank you.”