Help save Nicky’s Life - Support Her Cancer Treatment

Nicky (along with her beloved dog, Merlin) is the Founder and Ambassador of our non-profit, Dorset Dogs CIC, and Merlin’s Pet Food Banks.

In February 2025, after more than a year of pain and several misdiagnoses, Nicky was given the news: she has Stage 3 lung cancer. She is a non-smoker and her cancer is extremely rare — a form called NSCLC squamous with an EGFR exon 19 deletion mutation.

We are urgently raising £80,000 to fund life-saving private treatment for Nicky — treatment that could give her a real chance to survive. She wants to continue to serve our animals and humans in the community she created.

The NHS is unable to provide this treatment due to current NICE guidelines and funding restrictions. Approval is still months — or even years — away, it will come eventually. Privately the treatment is available. Nicky doesn’t have that time to wait due the aggressive nature of her cancer.

This is her only chance. Please help if you can — by donating, sharing, organising events and spreading the word.

Nicky and Merlin on the BBC national news 2023 opening Boscombe Pet Food Bank for Dorset Dogs CIC in partnership with Feed Our Community

£23,612 raised of £80,000 target as of 23.6.25

30% raised so far…

(this includes the Just Giving donations and BACS as well as funds raised here)

Why this matters:

The NHS can offer some treatment, but with her cancer type, it only gives her a 10% survival rate and at the very least we hope it buys her time.
However, privately funded oncology options—not currently available on the NHS but will be in the future—could raise her survival chances to 50–70%, according to recent LAURA and FLAURA2 clinical trials. (If you need details of what these treatments are please read the trial evidence).

Nicky has always been there for others — now she needs us.

Through her work with Dorset Dogs CIC, Nicky has helped countless dogs and pet owners, keeping pets out of rescue centres and supporting families during difficult times. Her compassion and tireless dedication have made a real impact in our community.

Now it’s time to give back.

Merlin needs his mum. We all do.

Please click the DONATE heart button (funds held for Nicky by non-profit Dorset Dogs CIC, to support.

Every donation, no matter the size, brings Nicky closer to the treatment she urgently needs. (Money raised minus payment processing fees will all go to this cause. If you are a friend of Nicky’s and don't want third party fees taken off your donation, please donate to her directly on BACS).

BACS payment into Nicky’s Account: Lloyds Bank, Miss N Crowe, 77-50-22, 57159968

There is also a JUSTGIVING fundraising page.

Please click the heart button to donate Help us give Nicky the chance she deserves.

Nicky’s biggest role in life is being mum to Merlin, her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

She is determined to fulfil her motherly duties and be there for him and she wants to live life for herself and be healthy and strong and to continue to be of service to animals and humans.

Together, Nicky and Merlin have built a community of 30,000 members at Dog Friendly Dorset with the sole purpose to help dogs and animals. And evolving this community into a our nonprofit organisation 3 years ago - making a lasting impact.

From Nicky: “I am so thankful to everyone donating. Sitting across from the NHS oncologist while he handed me my death sentence, I could see a vision of myself well and healthy in the distance. It was surreal. Then my brother paid for a private oncologist who gave me the hope in real time, that privately, I can get the cure that I need. The first of the evidence-based treatments costs min. £48K for the 6 week course of treatment and the second treatment required as a complusory follow-up to maximise long-term survival beyond 5 years is min. £25K not including travel and stay in London and the oncologist consultation fees and more. I have spent all my savings already on fighting this disease, I don't own property, I am a volunteer running a dog charity. I have had the "I'm going to die" cry and the "I can't die I need to be mum to my dog Merlin" cry. They are done. So there it is. There is no room for those moments anymore because I have decided I will live. Now, I've just got to find the route to make this happen and I can't do this alone ⭐”

Nicky and Merlin love spending time within and connecting to nature especially to our Dorset sea (Mama Cocha)

Nicky’s work opening 13 Pet Food Banks across Dorset with co-founder Samantha Taylor and an amazing volunteer team at Dorset Dogs CIC.

Nicky has done cold water sea swimming for 3 years to raise funds for our Pet Food Banks along with organising many other fundraisers, events and personal involvement, rolling up her sleeves, to set-up the Pet Food Banks. She has made contacts and networks and built a team of exceptional volunteers to make this all possible.

Image credits: Sophia Bella Photography, Sobo Dog Photography and A Billion Clicks Photography