Aundrea Bannatyne, a cluster manager for Cook’s Bangor and Newtownards stores in Northern Ireland, told TTG she was fighting the illness with “everything she has”.
The mum of two, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last July, is aiming to raise £200,000 to help fund expensive ongoing treatment at the Hallwang Private Oncology Clinic in Germany, whose pioneering work she says has offered her hope.
Aundrea paid tribute to the fundraising efforts of family, friends and travel industry colleagues, working under the name Aundrea’s Army.
“I can’t say that I was surprised because the travel industry, especially in Northern Ireland, has such a sense of unity and everyone is so generous and kind-hearted,” she said.
She also thanked her employer, Cook, for extending her sick pay by three months – “it’s taken a weight off my shoulders,” Aundrea added.
She said that although doctors treating her at the facility near Stuttgart were striving to find a cure, her prognosis remained terminal.
Aundrea is also receiving “top-up” chemotherapy in Belfast, costing £2,800 per cycle.
Earlier this month, she bravely gave permission to be filmed having her hair cut. The film has prompted a new fundraising drive called A Pound To Save A Life, viewed by more than half a million people.
“We couldn’t have imagined the reaction,” Aundrea continued. “I have always said ‘I have cancer, cancer doesn’t have me’, so the video was a way of showing that, and if everyone who watched it donated a pound we would have more than enough – just a pound would make such a difference.”
