Teacher's heartbreaking final message to loved ones as she dies aged 46

A teacher who bravely shared her battle with cancer left a moving final message to loved ones following her death on Wednesday.

Kate Rackham, 46, was diagnosed with incurable oestrogen-receptive breast cancer aged 39, after passing way this week left a message saying: "If you're reading this, I have died but do not cry for me."

The mother-of-two from Morecambe, Lancashire, continued: "I have lived my life on my own terms, the way I have wanted to".

Kate shared regular updates with her 22,000 followers throughout treatment and helped to establish the Fighting to be Heard charity which seeks to increase awareness about inoperable cancers.

Her emotional final message read: "If you're reading this, it means I have died. But do not cry for me. I have lived my life on my own terms, the way I have wanted to.

"I joined X because I needed an outlet, what I got was so much more. You made me feel validated in my feelings and much less alone. Thank you."

Her husband Mark announced her death in social post on Thursday, writing: "I am incredibly sad to have to tell you all that Kate died yesterday around 1.25pm.

"She was peaceful at the end and as per her wishes she was surrounded by me, her sister Caroline, her mum Christine, my mum Angela and Rev Huw performing Last Rites prayers.

"Brian, her stepdad, rushed off to get Ruby and Nancy who arrived moments after she had gone to say goodbye.

"She wanted to say that she lived her life exactly how she wanted to, and had done and achieved almost everything that she aimed for. From her, me and the rest of the family thank you all for your continued loving support."

Kate's brother-in-law, Carl Rackham, added that described her as the most "incredibly selfless and courageous woman I have ever met".

"If I was only half the person she was and only did half the selfless things that she bravely did with her life I would be happy in the knowledge that I had made a positive impact on the world, but Kate went above and beyond in all of that always thinking of others before herself," he said.

St Joseph's RC Primary School in Reddish where Kate was a Year 3 teacher paid tribute to courageous battle against the disease.

The school said in a statement that she "put up a remarkable fight against cancer, defying all the medical prognosis and fought right until the end. I saw Kate last week, who remained determined and in positive spirits, as always.

"Staff are understandably devastated and we know that many of our families and children will be too. We have arranged to speak to the children on Monday with Father Damien and some bereavement counsellors present, should any children get upset. You may also want to discuss this with your child at home.

"I know that Kate was overwhelmed by the support that she received from our families for the staff sponsored walk back in March and I want to thank you for that."

Kate was was diagnosed with stage 3 oestrogen-receptive invasive ductal carcinoma in 2016 and had surgery to remove a 6.5cm tumour from her left breast.

But subsequent tests showed the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes after which she had "every treatment thrown at me,".

Tragically the cancer came back soon after, recurring in her bones and liver.

She told the BBC the her cancer diagnosis came as a "massive shock" and opened up on the "massive" struggles with hair loss undergoing chemo.

Her last health update came on June 7 as she apologised for her "lack of communication recently".

"And then hearing the words, 'there is nothing more we can do'," she said. "I needed a bit of time."

She added that she was at home "where I want to be. With Mark and the girls. Surrounded by love, family and friends. Everyone is rallying around and I have so much support. Despite everything I feel blessed."

Kate leaves behind heartbroken husband Mark and her two children, Nancy, nine, and Ruby, 11.