Support flows for mother's cancer fight

CLOSE: Single mum Sandra Keyworth is battling cancer so she can be around to see her son Charlie, 8, grow up. Her colleagues and family have set up a Givealittle fundraiser to help support the family during her treatment. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Missing out on seeing her son grow up is simply not an option for a Carterton mother determined to overcome cancer.

Sandra Keyworth, 48, a single mother and early childhood teacher, was diagnosed in January with bowel cancer, which has spread to her liver.

Colleagues and family are rallying behind her efforts to beat the disease and see her son grow up, setting up a Givealittle page to help support her and her 8-year-old son, Charlie, while she undergoes chemotherapy and is unable to work.

Mrs Keyworth said despite the low survival rates of those with her form of cancer, she was doing her best to stay positive.

"I've just got to get on with it. I've got Charlie to live for. I don't want to go anywhere. I've got to see him grow up."

"It's really all up in the air, but I've really got to wait and see what happens with the chemo ... I'm just aiming to get through day by day, that's all I can do."

She began noticing symptoms late last year but attributed them to stress from her marriage break up.

Finding out it was cancer was an absolute shock, she said.

"It just never occurred to me ... I was gobsmacked."

"Then when they told me it had gone to my liver, it was just like someone chopped my knees off - I was useless."

Working with small children meant she was unable to continue with her job at Carterton Preschool Littlies, as the treatment would weaken her immune system.

Adjusting to living on a benefit was going to be hard, Mrs Keyworth said.

"I've never not worked so it's really hard to go from having an income - and going to being a lone parent. It's just a financial nightmare trying to figure out how we are going to manage."

Although her ex-husband helps with Charlie, it was tough coping with the stress of rearranging finances while also coming to grips with cancer.

"To find out that you only get 10 sick days a year and then you have to claim a benefit is hard."

Wanting to help her while she is away from work, her colleagues and ex-husband started a Givealittle fundraiser, where people can donate money to help support the family.

So far the response from friends and even strangers had been overwhelming, Mrs Keyworth said.

"It's just been amazing. You don't want to get sick but Carterton is a good place to be not well because it's a good community."

"I feel humbled that people would bother to give money to someone that they don't know."

People were also dropping off firewood, food, flowers, cards and other presents.

Team leader at Carterton Preschool Littlies Jacqui Geange said as well as backing the Givealittle page, the team planned to run several other fundraisers for Mrs Keyworth.

"We thought we'd love to support her while she's not working."

So far the page has raised about $4000.

The response was typical for Carterton and Wairarapa, Mrs Geange said.

"It's very, very humbling and we would like to keep the momentum up."

The treatment is expected to take at least a year and the centre would be holding Mrs Keyworth's job for her.

"It was horrific saying goodbye, so we didn't. Her job is here for her and we say that with conviction."

-To help support Mrs Keyworth and Charlie, visit https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/sandrakeyworth