THE community have rallied around a terminally ill mother before she leaves Malmesbury with her daughter.

Anneliese Bushnell, 42, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in May after breast cancer that she had in 2014 spread to her spine, hips and femurs.

Due to a fractured spine and emergency surgery to pin her hip and femur, she is now struggling to walk, and is therefore moving back to be near her family in Essex.

She made an appeal to Malmesbury residents online to provide her and her 11-year-old daughter Mia, some lasting memories of the town they have so loved living in for the past three years.

Residents jumped at the opportunity to support Anneliese and her daughter, offering free photoshoots, lunches out and an opportunity to go flying in a plane.

Reacting to the response from the community, Anneliese said: “I am utterly overwhelmed by Malmesbury's generosity and desire to help two relative strangers.

“I need a fresh morning head to process the offers of help and memory ideas, but it has reduced me to tears to read all [the] comments and offers of help.

“This is why we will find it so hard to leave Malmesbury, there simply isn't a town like it.

“You've come to my rescue at a time of need and Mia and I will remember that kindness for the rest of our lives.

“I've not seen [Mia] smile so much in ages, everything is a wow from her right now.

“Malmesbury I am truly humbled by your response. Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

To help with the cost of moving and buying a new wheelchair, Malmesbury-based charity HEALS started an online donation page for residents to donate to.

The campaign received more than £750 overnight and reached its £1,000 target total within 24 hours.

HEALS general manager Alison Cross-Jones said: “I know Anneliese and her daughter and I’ve had family who’ve fought and lost the battle with cancer, I know how this disease affects people.

“HEALS is about helping people when they need help and coordinating that help. It’s what we do.”

“I'm blown away by the responses to help fund our removal costs,” said Anneliese.

“It's a bit tight as a single parent not working owing to cancer, this really helps.”

To support the fundraising efforts, or to offer Anneliese and her daughter a ‘memory’ before they leave the town, visit gofundme.com/malmesburyfamily