The Ruth Strauss Foundation

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Rebecca Wilson

Rebecca Wilson

My Story

Rob Collingwood loved rugby, he loved biltong, he loved his job as an air ambulance pilot, he did a mean braii (BBQ), he loved his home country (South Africa), he REALLY loved the Springboks, he loved his social life - he was always the last man standing at a party - but above all he loved his wife Hattie and their two wonderful children, Thomas (10) and Lulu (8).
 
Two years ago after a short but tough battle with cancer, Rob died at home with Hattie by his side.  He fought incredibly hard to hold on to his life and to be here for as long as he could - the bravery he showed was extraordinary.  Rob really loved living.  His death devastated all who were lucky enough to know him but was particularly cruel to Hattie, Thomas and Lulu whose lives were shattered. 
 
Before Rob's death Hattie was put in touch with the Ruth Strauss Foundation who have, bit by bit, helped to care for all of them.
 
When I run the London Marathon on April 27th I will be running with Rob at the front of my mind.  Please sponsor me to help The Ruth Strauss Foundation continue the incredible work they do supporting the many families who face the trauma and devastation Hattie has faced.
 
About the Ruth Strauss Foundation
In early 2018 Ruth Strauss, wife of former England cricket captain Sir Andrew Strauss, was diagnosed with a terminal lung cancer that affects non-smokers. Ruth died in December 2018; she was 46 years old and mother to two children, then aged 10 and 13. In her memory, Sir Andrew Strauss set up the Ruth Strauss Foundation.
---------------------------------
“For so many, Ruth’s story will be uncannily familiar. Cancer often strikes when people least expect it and progresses at a pace of its own choosing. For those who are diagnosed too late, or unable to find a successful treatment, they have the hugely painful and unenviable task of preparing themselves and those around them for the inevitability of their death.”
“As Ruth bravely considered this towards the end of her life, her thoughts were almost exclusively centred on what her death would mean to the boys and myself, as well as what ‘good’ could come out of this dreadful situation.”
“The idea of the Foundation was hers. Aside from driving research into non-smoking lung cancers, she was determined to ensure that others going through what our family had encountered should have support available to help them navigate their way through their illness and help prepare the whole family for the death of a parent. She wanted people to ‘do death well’.” – Andrew Strauss
The Ruth Strauss Foundation’s mission is two-fold:
To ensure that every family with a child facing the death of a parent from cancer is offered the professional emotional support they need to prepare the family for the future.
To facilitate collaboration and influence research in the fight against non-smoking lung cancers (NSLCs), so that together we find the causes sooner and improve outcomes.
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41,000 children experience the death of a parent every year in the UK – that is 112 every single day.
Research shows that the death of a parent can be one of the most traumatic events experienced by a child in their lifetime. When asked, children share that they want parents to be open about their incurable illness, but parents often try to protect the child from the diagnosis. We also know that parents are seeking more support from healthcare professionals to enable these conversations, but currently there is not enough training, and many professionals feel unprepared to have these conversations.
We believe it is important to help families prepare for grief, death and dying by providing guidance to parents on how to start the difficult conversation with their children about their terminal diagnosis. The Foundation has developed the RSF Family Support Service to help families prepare for grief, death & dying by providing guidance to parents on how to start and continue the difficult conversation with their children about their cancer when it cannot be cured. By encouraging families to maintain an open and
honest dialogue, children will be able to make the most of the time left with the dying parent, without internalising questions, worries or fears.
The Foundation has also developed a Training Programme for healthcare professionals, in collaboration with health & family bereavement experts. The Programme will help nurses feel more confident in supporting families when a parent receives a terminal diagnosis.
Every year more than 6,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with non-smoking lung cancer (NSLC). Diagnosis is more common in women, and those under 55 years old. Over 57% are diagnosed at stage IV when there is no curative treatment.
Non-smoking lung cancers are NOT RARE. It simply does not receive the focus it deserves. Around 57% of lung cancer patients are diagnosed at stage 3-4, too late for curative treatment. Statistics are even worse for NSLCs where this rises to nearly 90%, as shown by research from two patient charities. Once diagnosed, there is very limited information available to help inform the patient. Lung Cancer Nurses have limited sources to signpost patients too for more information on diagnosis, treatment, and care of NSLCs. This is where the Foundation has played a key role.
We are advocating for better public awareness, more research and more collaboration in the fight against non-smoking lung cancers.
 
The Ruth Strauss Foundation was set up Ruth Strauss was the wife of former England cricket captain Sir Andrew Strauss.  Like Rob, she was diagnosed with a terminal lung cancer.  A few months after her diagnosis Ruth died; she was 46 years old and mother to two children, then aged 10 and 13. In her memory, Sir Andrew Strauss set up the Ruth Strauss Foundation.
“For so many, Ruth’s story will be uncannily familiar. Cancer often strikes when people least expect it and progresses at a pace of its own choosing. For those who are diagnosed too late, or unable to find a successful treatment, they have the hugely painful and unenviable task of preparing themselves and those around them for the inevitability of their death.”
The Ruth Strauss Foundation’s mission is two-fold:
To ensure that every family with a child facing the death of a parent from cancer is offered the professional emotional support they need to prepare the family for the future.
To facilitate collaboration and influence research in the fight against non-smoking lung cancers (NSLCs), so that together we find the causes sooner and improve outcomes.
The Ruth Strauss Foundation

Raising for:

The Ruth Strauss Foundation
137%

Funded

  • Target
    £1,500
  • Raised so far
    £2,056
  • Number of donors
    48

My Story

Rob Collingwood loved rugby, he loved biltong, he loved his job as an air ambulance pilot, he did a mean braii (BBQ), he loved his home country (South Africa), he REALLY loved the Springboks, he loved his social life - he was always the last man standing at a party - but above all he loved his wife Hattie and their two wonderful children, Thomas (10) and Lulu (8).
 
Two years ago after a short but tough battle with cancer, Rob died at home with Hattie by his side.  He fought incredibly hard to hold on to his life and to be here for as long as he could - the bravery he showed was extraordinary.  Rob really loved living.  His death devastated all who were lucky enough to know him but was particularly cruel to Hattie, Thomas and Lulu whose lives were shattered. 
 
Before Rob's death Hattie was put in touch with the Ruth Strauss Foundation who have, bit by bit, helped to care for all of them.
 
When I run the London Marathon on April 27th I will be running with Rob at the front of my mind.  Please sponsor me to help The Ruth Strauss Foundation continue the incredible work they do supporting the many families who face the trauma and devastation Hattie has faced.
 
About the Ruth Strauss Foundation
In early 2018 Ruth Strauss, wife of former England cricket captain Sir Andrew Strauss, was diagnosed with a terminal lung cancer that affects non-smokers. Ruth died in December 2018; she was 46 years old and mother to two children, then aged 10 and 13. In her memory, Sir Andrew Strauss set up the Ruth Strauss Foundation.
---------------------------------
“For so many, Ruth’s story will be uncannily familiar. Cancer often strikes when people least expect it and progresses at a pace of its own choosing. For those who are diagnosed too late, or unable to find a successful treatment, they have the hugely painful and unenviable task of preparing themselves and those around them for the inevitability of their death.”
“As Ruth bravely considered this towards the end of her life, her thoughts were almost exclusively centred on what her death would mean to the boys and myself, as well as what ‘good’ could come out of this dreadful situation.”
“The idea of the Foundation was hers. Aside from driving research into non-smoking lung cancers, she was determined to ensure that others going through what our family had encountered should have support available to help them navigate their way through their illness and help prepare the whole family for the death of a parent. She wanted people to ‘do death well’.” – Andrew Strauss
The Ruth Strauss Foundation’s mission is two-fold:
To ensure that every family with a child facing the death of a parent from cancer is offered the professional emotional support they need to prepare the family for the future.
To facilitate collaboration and influence research in the fight against non-smoking lung cancers (NSLCs), so that together we find the causes sooner and improve outcomes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41,000 children experience the death of a parent every year in the UK – that is 112 every single day.
Research shows that the death of a parent can be one of the most traumatic events experienced by a child in their lifetime. When asked, children share that they want parents to be open about their incurable illness, but parents often try to protect the child from the diagnosis. We also know that parents are seeking more support from healthcare professionals to enable these conversations, but currently there is not enough training, and many professionals feel unprepared to have these conversations.
We believe it is important to help families prepare for grief, death and dying by providing guidance to parents on how to start the difficult conversation with their children about their terminal diagnosis. The Foundation has developed the RSF Family Support Service to help families prepare for grief, death & dying by providing guidance to parents on how to start and continue the difficult conversation with their children about their cancer when it cannot be cured. By encouraging families to maintain an open and
honest dialogue, children will be able to make the most of the time left with the dying parent, without internalising questions, worries or fears.
The Foundation has also developed a Training Programme for healthcare professionals, in collaboration with health & family bereavement experts. The Programme will help nurses feel more confident in supporting families when a parent receives a terminal diagnosis.
Every year more than 6,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with non-smoking lung cancer (NSLC). Diagnosis is more common in women, and those under 55 years old. Over 57% are diagnosed at stage IV when there is no curative treatment.
Non-smoking lung cancers are NOT RARE. It simply does not receive the focus it deserves. Around 57% of lung cancer patients are diagnosed at stage 3-4, too late for curative treatment. Statistics are even worse for NSLCs where this rises to nearly 90%, as shown by research from two patient charities. Once diagnosed, there is very limited information available to help inform the patient. Lung Cancer Nurses have limited sources to signpost patients too for more information on diagnosis, treatment, and care of NSLCs. This is where the Foundation has played a key role.
We are advocating for better public awareness, more research and more collaboration in the fight against non-smoking lung cancers.
 
The Ruth Strauss Foundation was set up Ruth Strauss was the wife of former England cricket captain Sir Andrew Strauss.  Like Rob, she was diagnosed with a terminal lung cancer.  A few months after her diagnosis Ruth died; she was 46 years old and mother to two children, then aged 10 and 13. In her memory, Sir Andrew Strauss set up the Ruth Strauss Foundation.
“For so many, Ruth’s story will be uncannily familiar. Cancer often strikes when people least expect it and progresses at a pace of its own choosing. For those who are diagnosed too late, or unable to find a successful treatment, they have the hugely painful and unenviable task of preparing themselves and those around them for the inevitability of their death.”
The Ruth Strauss Foundation’s mission is two-fold:
To ensure that every family with a child facing the death of a parent from cancer is offered the professional emotional support they need to prepare the family for the future.
To facilitate collaboration and influence research in the fight against non-smoking lung cancers (NSLCs), so that together we find the causes sooner and improve outcomes.