Family celebrate the life of Hannah Edwards

Lucy lost her sister Hannah to bowel cancer in August 2020. She shares with us how her memories of her sister inspired her and her family to set up a Star of Hope Tribute Fund.

Hannah was the best big sister anyone could wish for. She was the most thoughtful person I’ve ever known and always had a way to let you know how much she loved you. She had the courage to always follow her heart and she continues to inspire me every day. I’ll always feel so privileged and lucky to be her sister.

Hannah was extremely active and healthy, in June 2019 she’d completed the ‘3 peak challenge’ for charity. She was also a wonderful, talented singer and dancer and was rehearsing for a new show just days before her diagnosis.

She suffered with bouts of abdominal bloating for several years but it was put down to flare ups from a gluten intolerance that doctors had diagnosed years before.

Hannah moved to Spain in June 2020 to follow her dreams and be with Tony, the love of her life. But three weeks after arriving, she started to suffer from severe sickness and constipation. At first, we thought it may be food poisoning and dehydration. She made regular trips to the hospital, where she was put on IV fluids then sent home. When the symptoms persisted, she had further investigations and was told on Friday 31 July that there was a tumour in her transverse colon.

A week later, we were told that the cancer had already spread to her liver and lungs and was stage 4. Everything was moving so quickly. She had an operation on Friday 14 August to remove the tumour. The hope was she would receive chemotherapy soon after. However, she never recovered from the operation and died just 11 days later on Tuesday 25 August. She was 37 years old.

The Sunday before she died, after we had found out there was nothing more the doctors could do, we had the most surreal yet beautiful day. We told each other we loved each other more times than I could count. Hannah even managed to make us all laugh. I've never and will never witness the strength, bravery and love that my sister showed that day. To face what Hannah did, the way she did, I’ll always be in awe of her, she is my hero.

From the offset Hannah had a strong determination to battle and beat the cancer. She said she wanted to be a ‘poster girl’ for the disease and spread the word so others knew the symptoms. After she died, my mum, my dad and I wanted to make this happen. With the help of Bowel Cancer UK, we started a Star of Hope Tribute fund. On 12 September 2020, we started sharing Hannah’s page and her message.

Over £36,000 has been raised in her name so far, directly going to Bowel Cancer UK’s Never Too Young campaign. We’re so overwhelmed and grateful for the support that we’ve received.

People have run, walked, raffled, bid, sung, danced, all in her name. The biggest source of fundraising comes from Spain. Hannah’s nickname in Spain was ‘Daphne’. So her boyfriend Tony and her close friend Cath, set up ‘Daphonbury’, an annual day-long festival of entertainment. It hosts the best acts from across the Costa Del Sol. Last year they raised an incredible £6,565. This year it's set to be even bigger. There are 18 acts performing and merchandise being made and sold to raise money. Her Spanish 'family’ has continuously been a huge support to us ever since her diagnosis and we’ll forever be grateful to them.

Hannah would have been 40 in January this year. Our joint goal is to reach £40,000 in what would have been her 40^th year.

It’s been over three years since Hannah died and it’s still hard to imagine a future without her. I hope that by sharing her story, we make more people aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer and that you’re never too young.

• Donate to Hannah’s Star of Hope Tribute Fund
• Find out more about our Never Too Young campaign
• Learn about the symptoms of bowel cancer