A CHRISTOW mum who was battling a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer has died, her family has announced.
Kim Jenkins had been receiving pioneering treatment at a clinic in Germany following a crowdfunding campaign to raise £70,000 to cover the cost.
However, the mum-of-one and former swimming instructor died at home on Sunday.
Her family had been trying to raise the money to finish the course of treatment in Germany after all effective NHS treatment options had been exhausted and were just £5,000 away from their target.
Her partner Tom Halliday, whom she had been planning to marry when her cancer returned last May, said: ‘I am sad to break the news that we lost our wonderful Kim last night,
‘It was peaceful and she was in no pain.
‘She had the full support of me and her parents through her difficult transition and journey to the other side.
‘It is a shock to hear this news after things appeared to be going so well.’
Kim was originally diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in February 2015 when her daughter Miya was just three months old.
She underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy but discovered a lump in her armpit in May last year.
Tests confirmed the cancer had spread to her spine and ribs and her breast cancer was stage four.
Treatment in Germany appeared to have stopped the progression of the cancer.
Tom explained: ‘Only five weeks ago her liver and brain scans were completely clear when we left Germany.
‘So within that amount of weeks, it came out of the shadows and consumed her.
‘I rapidly arranged another two treatments in London to combat the spread but it all happened so fast and over the holiday week that we could not do anything as she was not fit to travel.
‘The truth is she had hope and a powerful treatment plan all the way to the end, everyone behind her fought like a battalion of thousands.’
Remaining funds will be used to support Tom and Miya and keep their home.
Tom added: ‘I am a broken man and have lost half my existence.
‘I feel her close to me all the time but it’s hard being in love with someone who is behind the reflective fabric of life.’
Fellow swimming instructors at Little Fishes held a 24-hour swim at the health and wellbeing centre at Hannahs at Seale Hayne in support of the campaign.
Kim had been one of the original instructors when Little Fishers was started 10 years ago.