Rachael Allen, of Newark, is set to embark on a 12-hour crochet marathon on Saturday, turning her hobby into hope for her father who is having surgery this week to remove two rare cancer tumours in his lungs.

As Trevor Allen, 60, prepares for his second surgery to combat spindle cell sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, his daughter, Rachel, and wife, Tana, (above) will be outside the Co-op in Farnsfield, crocheting blankets from 9am to raise awareness of sarcoma and funds for Sarcoma UK.

Tana and Trevor Allen

They will be making blankets to donate to Nottingham City Hospital, where Trevor is being treated for spindle cell sarcoma. It is a rare bone cancer that most often affects the arms and legs, but can also affect the lungs and other body parts. There are an average of 173 cases of spindle cell sarcoma diagnosed every year in England.

Trevor, a lorry driver, first noticed a tiny lump on his thigh in November 2022. After seeing his GP, he had scans and was diagnosed with sarcoma in January 2023. He had an operation in May 2023, which involved the removal of a large amount of muscle from his leg.

By the end of September that year, Trevor had returned to light duties at work but this June the family’s world was turned upside down when a scan found two further tumours in his lungs. He is due to have surgery this week for those tumours.

Rachael said: “The first time we were told dad had sarcoma was horrendous. Then we thought things were getting back to normal, but now we are back at square one. To be told he has sarcoma a second time left us stunned. It has been a real strain on all of us and, of course, my dad in particular, who gets frustrated that he can’t do the things he used to be able to.”

Rachael will set up a stall in the village where her father was born. She has already created items, such as hearts with quotes on them, and there will be leaflets about sarcoma for people to take away.

She is being supported by her mother Tana who will be knitting. The family had an original fundraising target of £250, but that has been broken and they are now aiming for £1,250.

Rachael added: “Crocheting and knitting is something we both like to do and I’ve not seen anyone else do this as a fundraiser. We are trying to turn our horrible situation into something positive and raise funds that will help other families who are going through the same thing.”

Sarcoma UK Support Line advisor Carly McDonald said: “Rachael’s dedication to her father and to raising awareness about sarcoma is truly inspiring. At Sarcoma UK, we often see how a diagnosis affects not just the patient, but the whole family.

“Fundraising efforts like this crochet marathon are vital in supporting our work to provide information, fund research and offer support through our helpline. We encourage anyone affected by sarcoma – whether they’re a patient, family member or friend – to reach out to us. Every conversation, every blanket crocheted, every pound raised brings us closer to better outcomes for sarcoma patients.”

To donate to the appeal, go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/rachael-allen-1719684468354

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