Liverpool Mum records song for Cancer Charity

A YOUNG Liverpool mum today spoke of her determination to find a cure for a rare cancer-causing condition which has struck her family. Rebecca Haslam, 25, of Orrell Park, has a genetic condition called Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), which leads to growths developing in the body and can cause bowel cancer. Her mum Catherine Webster has FAP, her nan died from it and Rebecca had life-saving surgery to remove an affected part of her bowel.But she now has inoperable tumours and is having treatment to try to shrink them.

Meanwhile, she has written and recorded a song about her fight with the illness and launched a charity to try to find a cure for her condition to prolong her life but also to save other families from heartbreak. Doctors have said her five-year-old daughter Tyeshia will be tested in the future because there is a 50% chance of FAP being passed on to her. Rebecca, who was forced to give up her job at a special needs school because of ill health, said: 'It is rare to have the FAP gene and even rarer to get the desmoid tumours I have in my stomach. The chances of that are a million-to-one.’

I want to raise funds and awareness, hopefully so it not only saves my life so I can be there for my little daughter, but also save other lives and other people's families.’ I do not want to leave my little girl because I have so much to live for.'Rebecca was warned her life-saving operation, which she had when she was 19, could leave her with only a 35% chance of having children, but despite the odds Tyeshia arrived six months later. She thought her troubles were over but a year after having Tyeshia she was told had three inoperable tumours in her stomach.

The Miss Liverpool pageant sponsored by Hampson Hughes personal Injury solicitors is helping to raise funds for the charity with the help of donations of raffle prizes from Liverpool and Everton FC, Liverpool Charter Boat and Liverpool City Centre Arena Paint balling.

Each contestant in Miss Liverpool is aiming to raise over £100 each by selling tickets, as they are the same age as Rebecca they really feel for her and are determined to help the charity.

Raffle tickets can ALSO be purchased in city centre from
RUSSELL & CASE Jewellers, Ground Floor, Bling Bling Building, 69 Hanover St, Liverpool ONE, L1 3DY.
Tel 0151 709 4643 or
Minskys Hair salon Bold St (top by Tesco Express) Tel. 0151 709 1474
Tickets £1 per Strip purchased in the City Centre from Russell & Case jewellers
Ground Floor, Bling Bling Building, 69 Hanover Street, or Minsky’s Hair Salon, Bold Street.

If anyone would like to help Rebecca with her charity she can be contacted on 0772 471 9865.