News

28 June 2021

We’re so lucky to have so many amazing people who support The Dianne Oxberry Trust and our work. In this blog series, just some of the fabulous members of our charity’s community share why it means so much to them. Here, Jo Rosenberg, one of our trustees, shares more about what motivated her to be involved…

Please could you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Jo Rosenberg. I live in Sale and I am a personal trainer.

What's your connection with The Dianne Oxberry Trust?
I am a Trustee

Why is The Dianne Oxberry Trust so important to you?
On a very personal level, I saw how quickly Dianne deteriorated from a strong, busy, working mum to being so very poorly and unable to be cured.

I know that Dianne would never want anyone to go through what she went through, leaving behind a beautiful young family.

Every women must be aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer because early diagnosis can save lives. If we can educate women around these symptoms and empower them to knock down doors if they feel something isn't right, then we are making Dianne proud.

What motivated your involvement with the charity?
I remember the day Dianne died. It was the most horrific day of my life. Seeing a family torn apart, losing the glue that had held them together. But I had also lost a very close friend and the grief was unbearable.

When Ian, Dianne’s husband, mentioned setting up a Trust and helping other families who had lost someone close to them through this horrible disease, I knew I wanted to be part of it; to channel the grief in as positive a way as possible, to celebrate the wonderful person Dianne was and most importantly, to help give women with ovarian cancer more time.

What would you say to others who were thinking of getting involved in helping the Trust in some way?
Go for it! Do whatever you can, however big or small. As a Trustee, I have tried to embrace the fundraising side of the charity - it's incredibly rewarding, it brings people together, raises awareness of The Dianne Oxberry Trust and helps bring in much needed funds so we can fulfill our goal of reaching women across the North West in the most at-risk group.

Why do you think it's so important to raise awareness of ovarian cancer to women and health care professionals in the North West?
Because sadly there is a lack of education and information on ovarian cancer and we know that some women who see their GP with ovarian cancer symptoms are being misdiagnosed with the likes of IBS, constipation and menopause.

Education is critical and women need to unapologetically bang the door down if they feel their symptoms aren't being taken seriously.

How would you describe the Dianne Oxberry Trust in three words?
Honest, compassionate and pro-active.

To find out more about how you can get involved in supporting the Dianne Oxberry Trust, visit our fundraising page now.