Lockdown plant rescuers rocked by cancer diagnosis

A woman who set up a business in West Sussex to stop unsold plants being thrown away during lockdown has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Camilla Chapman, from Bracklesham Bay, near Chichester, was told she had a year to live after learning she had a stomach cancer which had spread to her lungs, liver and lymph nodes.

The mother-of-four has run Hope Plants with her fiancé Matt Skinner since 2020, but is fundraising to allow her to take time off and for alternative treatments.

"We set up our business to give hope to people in lockdown and obviously plants destined for the bin. Now it's our plea to get hope from people," she said.

Ms Chapman told how she had difficulty swallowing for a few months, but was unprepared for her diagnosis.

"Other than the difficulty swallowing, I am fine, I am well. There is nothing wrong with me which makes it even harder to accept," told BBC Radio Sussex.

The couple, who have four boys under 10, are fundraising so they can spend time together.

Mr Skinner said: "That business takes a lot of effort and a lot of time.

"In some ways I'm blaming myself for being so focussed on that for the last few years and maybe not enjoying the moment with Camilla and the family."

Mr Skinner lost his job in horticulture at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic – and together with Ms Chapman set up Hope Plants.

The business takes plants from garden centres which were forced to shut and delivers them to keen gardeners across the UK.

Now Ms Chapman has been told she can have chemotherapy to extend her life but is looking into alternative therapies, including treatments in Mexico.

The couple has so far raised more than £16,000 on crowdfunding site JustGiving to help with costs.

"Like most people, we have to work to pay the bills and to look after our kids, but I'd like to be able to focus on me," Ms Chapman added.

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