Liberty's Legacy
Liberty Schurer was a member of Chalfont Otters Swimming Club for several years. On her 13th birthday in 2016, she was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in her left tibia, one of the rarer but very aggressive forms of cancer which mainly affects children and young people. From a very young age Liberty was passionate about sport, with a particular passion for swimming, dance, netball, athletics, golf and football. Throughout her treatment she was an inspiration to everyone: not once did she complain about the pain she was in nor the amount of treatment she had to endure. However, after a courageous 13-month battle, Liberty died on 11 October 2017, just two weeks after celebrating her 14th birthday. She was still cracking jokes and dreaming of the day she would return to Chalfont Otters to swim and compete with her friends. Sadly, that day never happened.
We will never forget Liberty Grace Schurer. Chalfont Otters wear a yellow ribbon on their hats to remember her. The yellow ribbon reminds our swimmers of the strength and determination she showed, and encourages our swimmers to put this attitude into their training in order to reach their goals.
Here is a beautiful piece written by Liberty's family.
Our beloved daughter, Liberty Grace, sadly gained her angel wings on October 11th 2017, just 2 weeks after celebrating her 14th birthday.
Liberty was a 'social butterfly' with a real zest for life and had an enormous circle of friends. They were such a huge support to her during her treatment and she was a loyal friend who loved them back fiercely in return.
She was an out-going, fun loving girl with a wicked sense of humour and neither her cancer diagnosis nor gruelling treatment dampened that passion for life or extinguished her enigmatic and dazzling smile that she was so well known for. Her smile could literally light up a room and just capture everyone under its spell.
Liberty amazed everyone during her treatment and her family could not have been more proud. She rarely moaned and just got on with it, that cheeky grin rarely slipping from her face. Many times after a stay in hospital, she was known to throw on her wig, lashes and make-up in order to dash down the motorway and make the next party or the next school disco! It didn't matter what was thrown at her; chemotherapy, hair loss, transfusions, endless vomiting, 9 hour limb salvage surgery, learning to walk again, stem cell transplant, liver failure, relentless scans and tests or intensive radiotherapy, she just faced it all head on and yet still had the amazing capacity to always put others before herself. A true warrior princess and heroine in every sense of the word!
Just days from the end of her treatment in late August 2017, Liberty sadly discovered a new lump in her thigh. It was during emergency scans that she was given the devastating news that not only had the Ewing's returned, it had also now spread throughout her lungs and liver as well as her lymph glands and nothing more could be done. It was just too aggressive.
Liberty handled the news with such dignity, grace and a maturity far exceeding her tender 13 years. Her greatest worry right to the end was always her friends and family, more concerned about their feelings over and above her own and it was during this time that the idea for Liberty's Legacy was born. She did not want any other child to suffer as she had, or other families to be ripped apart in the same way, and she also wanted her name to live on and to be remembered. Her wish was that her family continue to raise awareness and funds for vital research specifically into Ewing's, for which survival rates have shockingly not improved in nearly 30 years and treatment protocols are decades old.
Liberty's greatest wish was that we fundraise in her name, with all proceeds to go towards research into Ewing's, so that no other child need suffer in the same way and no other family be devastatingly ripped apart. Through Liberty's Legacy, we hope that her name will live on and allow us to bring Liberty into the future with us, and give honour and meaning to her life.
Liberty gained her wings on October 11th 2017, just 2 weeks after her 14th birthday, a day that she was so determined to make. She is so very deeply missed, but she taught those around her so much during her 13 month battle with her courage, bravery, dignity, humour and thoughtfulness and she continues to inspire and touch people's hearts every single day.
Libs, as she was known to those closest to her, had a crazy sense of humour and right up until the last few days, despite immeasurable pain, she continued to make them laugh and smile and that is how she will forever be remembered, with love, laughter and a smile.
Fly high baby girl, you will never be forgotten, you were and still are so loved and are so deeply missed, more than you will ever know.
We never thought it would be our child either until it was.
Through the club's partnership with Liberty's Legacy, we have to date raised over £25,000 through fundraising activities including proceeds from sales of our club swimming hats and clothing and our fantastic Senior Club Captain's channel swim in 2021. Liberty's Legacy is a special fund of the Bone Cancer Research Trust raising vital funds for life-saving research into Ewing sarcoma. Liberty and so many just like her had so much to give and deserve so much more. We greatly value any contribution or support you can give, however large or small.
If you would like to donate directly to Liberty's Legacy or create your own personal fundraising event, just follow the link at the bottom of the page entitled 'Link your personal fundraising Challenge'.
