An actress who made her name in UK soap Emmerdale has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, she has revealed this week.
Leah Bracknell, who played Zoe Tate for 16 years until 2006, was given the news after an emergency operation last month.
She and her partner Jez Hughes are now raising money in the hope she can receive treatment at a specialist clinic in Germany.
The 52-year-old yoga teacher wrote on her fundraising page that she is trying to remain positive in the wake of such a devastating diagnosis.
In the heartbreaking post, Leah says she was feeling healthy and looking forward to new beginnings when she suddenly became breathless doing the smallest of tasks.
Leah back in her Emmerdale days
“My abdomen suddenly ballooned – and within a matter of a few days I looked heavily pregnant. I could barely walk or breathe. Then, one Saturday night at the beginning of September I ended up in A & E.”
After an emergency operation to drain fluid from around her heart, Leah was given the devastating news that she has Stage 4 lung cancer, and cannot be cured.
“My priority is to defy expectation. My priority is to love, to laugh, and, as Bob said, to “keep on keepin’ on,”” Leah writes.
On Emmerdale, her character Zoe Tate was the first lesbian on any British soap, and one of the longest-featured gay characters on television. Her character was also diagnosed as a Schizophrenic on the show, raising awareness around mental health issues.
The actress has two children.
To get stronger, Leah needs to raise the equivalent of $100,000 (NZ) to get her the treatment she needs in Germany. To donate, or hear Leah’s full story, head to the page here.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
