Kate Rackham, our co-founder, passed on 13 June 2024. Kate was a tireless advocate for those living with incurable secondary breast cancer, leaving behind a powerful message to her 17,000 X followers, urging them “not to cry for me” and inspiring thousands with her strength. Kate passed away at the age of 46, leaving her family and a passionate community dedicated to continuing her vital work. Everyone at the charity is truly devastated by her passing.
Sarah Larner and Kate Rackham at photo shoot, September 2021
Kate’s teacher with Cancers X final tweet had a reach of over 1.82 billion! Her impact across the globe raised the much-needed awareness of Secondary Breast Cancer.
In the BBC article by Rumeana Jahangir reported,
Former BBC newsreader Beccy Barr, who attended the same school and has been diagnosed with abdominal cancer, posted a tribute, saying: “In recent months we reconnected and she was incredibly empathic and supportive of my terminal diagnosis as she handled her own. What a wonderful woman.”
Nicola Nuttall, whose daughter Laura, 23, died of brain cancer while achieving a bucket list of ambitions, posted that she was “heartbroken that we’ve lost this truly incredible woman”.
Speaking about climbing Pendle Hill with Ms Rackham, in memory of Laura, Nicola added: “Kate really knew how to live, she wanted to come up Pendle but wouldn’t wait for better weather because she knew better than anyone the value of a single day.
“We nearly got blown off but it was brilliant, so glad we met.”
‘Such dignity’
Clare Baron, head teacher at St Joseph’s RC Primary in Reddish, where Ms Rackham taught said: “We are deeply saddened by yesterday’s news and our thoughts and prayers are with Kate’s family, friends, colleagues and all the pupils she taught.
“Kate cared about teaching and educating our young people. She made a difference to the lives of so many people, both in her years in education and her inspirational awareness raising and charity work following her own cancer diagnosis.
“She will very much be missed in our school community and beyond. We are all blessed to have had Kate Rackham as part of our lives.”
Ms Rackham previously told BBC Radio 5 Live about her “heartbreaking” struggles with hair loss.
“It’s really hard losing your hair. It’s not just losing your hair, it’s losing your eyelashes and eyebrows as well.
“That’s the difference between looking like you are rocking a bald head and looking like you are on chemotherapy,” she said.
She said her diagnosis “came as a massive shock”, and that prior to it, she had lumps that she had got checked out, but with no family history she was told not to worry.
When she noticed another lump, she said she did not get it checked straight away.
In her role as trustee of Fighting To Be Heard, Ms Rackham said her aim was “to raise awareness in a bid that no one else goes through what we are all going through”.
Read the entire post here – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nnjlnr57yo
