Raising awareness and funds for Jess

Sadly, in early March 2020, just after her 25th birthday, 2013 leaver Jess Pearson was diagnosed with low grade serous cell ovarian cancer, grade 3b. After many meetings with medical professionals, significant surgery, and the subsequent devastating news that the cancer had spread further than initially thought, Jess has unfortunately been told that her condition is now incurable.

Jess is determined to raise awareness about ovarian cancer to help other women avoid this happening to them, because in her words:

“If my cancer had been caught earlier, things could’ve been very different. For over three years I went to various GP’s with symptoms, which were continually misdiagnosed as IBS, stress, anxiety, gastritis and even just ‘women’s problems’. In this time, the cancer was given the chance to spread, to a point where the only option was to have a full hysterectomy at age 25. Although Ovarian cancer is devastating for many – it kills 11 women every day in the UK and the survival rates in the UK are among the worst in Europe – research is limited. Charities such as Target Ovarian Cancer (who I raised money for on my last birthday) is one of a few charities that specifically help fund research, raise awareness and support those who are living with Ovarian cancer.”

Target Ovarian Cancer’s website contains information about ovarian cancer including symptoms:

Jess is fighting to find and access treatment beyond the NHS but the costs of this are exceptionally high so she has set up a GoFundMe page in the hope of raising enough funds. 

We know that the Old Girl community has already shown great support for Jess and we hope that we can arrange an opportunity for old girls to hear more from Jess to further raise awareness.