Saras Hope Foundation - Smiles, Hopes and Precious Memories

"When I was first diagnosed with cancer I was very shocked as you never expect anything major to happen to yourself. You see issues very similar to your own and we feel sorry for people who are in ill health. The thing is we never think that anything serious can happen to ourselves. When I first found out that I had cancer I was really stunned and shocked but my first thought was I am going to get through this and prove not only to myself but also to the doctors and nurses I can. So will you, if you have a positive attitude all the way through your journey."

"As well as being stunned and shocked I was happy not because I had cancer but it was me that had cancer and not my Mum, Dad or Mark"

The above excerpts were taken from "My Journey through cancer" by Sara Hoburn aged 14.

The above words sum up Sara´s fantastic and unselfish attitude. Sara always thought about everyone else and their feelings, she loved life, loved her family and her friends and had the knack of making you feel special. Whenever a visitor walked into the room, no matter how ill she was feeling she always asked "how are you?" Sara was extremely loyal to those she cared about and was always ´there´ if a family member or a close friend needed her.

Sara´s attitude amazed the medical staff in the Teenage Cancer Unit in the Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital in Newcastle. Professor Pearson (Sara´s consultant) commented that Sara always smiled and thanked him no matter how serious or upsetting the news. Staff nicknamed her their "smiling star".

Sara spent a lot of her time playing with the younger children, especially the babies. It was Sara´s ambition to become a children´s nurse and care for seriously ill children. Sara also wrote her book "My journey through cancer" which she hoped would help children and teenagers in a similar position, remain positive and have "Hope".

Sara also loved her holidays and in 2000 we enjoyed three family holidays after her treatment had finished. Sara especially loved Greece and the Greek Islands and it was her dream to get married in a little blue and white church on the beach. Sara was awarded a Brave Heart award for her tremendous and warm spirit and a holiday in the destination of her choice. Typically Sara chose Disneyland Florida for her younger brother Mark. Sadly Sara never made the trip as she suffered a relapse late in 2000.

Sara was an inspiration to everyone who knew her and when she lost the battle on the 16th January 2001, Sara became a "hero". On her last day Sara said to me "I am sorry dad" as she could not face any more tablets. This summed her up, a unique and courageous person who had so much to give and so much to live for.

We are the proudest parents in the universe and Sara´s inspiration has given our family and special friends the strength to carry on and set up Saras Hope Foundation. We know Sara would be thrilled by the project and when the first child and their family walk through the door she will have the biggest smile on her face.