Today, as her family lay her to rest, we are especially thinking of all who knew and loved Paula Coates, the inspiration for our Fundraising Group The Paula Coates Fund, who passed away on 4 October.
Paula, beloved wife of Rob and mum to 23-year-old Lucy, was 47 when she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) in early 2021 after suffering with excruciating headaches and vomiting. She underwent surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy and, knowing that the tumour would come back, started “making the most of the time I have left’” which included going on holiday to Sorrento, Italy, with Rob and Lucy.
Sadly, as doctors predicted, an MRI scan in February this year showed regrowth and Paula had further treatment until it was found to be no longer working.
Paula told us that when she was diagnosed, one of her friends remarked: “But you’re the healthiest person I know!” – Paula had been a prolific long-distance runner and had completed more than 10 marathons.
We are grateful to Paula’s father-in-law Ray for launching the Paula Coates Fund which held a successful Golf Day in June 2022, raising close to £6,000 for Brain Tumour Research and to Lucy and her friends who took on a midnight climb of Ben Nevis, raising a further £1,600.
Paula’s death and the loss of far too many other mums, dads, children and loved ones, spurs us on in our work to find a cure so that families in the future will no longer be devastated by brain tumours.
To donate in memory of Paula, go to www.braintumourresearch.org/donation and add Paula Coates as your reason