A fundraiser has been launched to help support the children of a single mum in her 40s who has been diagnosed with advanced cancer.

NHS worker Trish Penman, from Herne Bay, was "sadly and very suddenly" told she has stage 4 pancreatic cancer just three weeks ago after visiting her GP with stomach pains.

The "devastating" news has come as a deep shock to Trish and her two sons - one a teenager, the other in his 20s.

Her loved ones have now launched a fundraiser to help the family, and "relieve some of the financial burden she is under".

Friend and colleague Sophie Middleton said: "Trish is a single mum and has raised these two beautiful boys she is extremely proud of and is, of course, so worried about their future without her.

"It's a lot for them to deal with in such a short amount of time."

Sophie describes Trish - a trainee respiratory physiologist who works across the Kent and Canterbury and QEQM hospitals - as "the sun in the sky to all who know her".

"She's a beautiful, kind and radiant soul," she said. "She is always thinking of everyone before herself.

"This situation is devastating to every single person who has had the pleasure of meeting her."

Things have progressed rapidly for Trish since she received her diagnosis following a GP visit just a few weeks ago.

She is currently an in-patient at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, where this week she underwent surgery, and is awaiting news of her prognosis.

"There are things that are life-threatening because of just how large this tumour is, so we're having to deal with that first," said Sophie. "It's beginning to affect other organs.

"There are lots of other tests and procedures for her to endure to hopefully get her fit enough to go home with a decent quality of life to spend with her two boys.

"We're holding onto the hope the diagnosis could change after her tests, but at the moment this is what she has been told."

Sophie says Trish has "dedicated her whole life to the NHS", working long hours across local departments including respiratory, cardiology and A&E in order to provide for her family.

"This illness is causing her huge financial worry which nobody needs when facing such a fight for their life," she said.

To Sophie's delight, the fundraiser for Trish and her boys has already raised more than £2,500.

"The outpouring of love from the community's been really lovely," she said. "It brings a real big smile to Trish's face.

"Anything you can donate will be received with thanks and gratitude from the bottom of our hearts."

Sophie, a cardiac physiologist at the QEQM, urges anybody who is concerned about their medical symptoms to seek help despite the coronavirus pandemic.

"Unfortunately we've seen a lot of people come to us too late - not too late for us to do anything, but where their prognosis might have been better if they'd come to us earlier," she said.

"Even in this Covid climate, people should still see their GPs and go and get checked out.

"It's difficult to get that across to people - that you still need to come in and see us, and we're happy to see you. Don't be scared.

"I think Trish would be really on top of that message."

To donate to the fundraiser, visit the GoFundMe page.

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