My friend Francesca Marvell has died aged 33 from secondary breast cancer. From the day of her original diagnosis in 2009, she insisted her life would not be defined by her illness. Fran documented her progress in a blog, Tilting Heads, its title a reference to the move people would make when they heard about her cancer. In the three days after her death, her blog was viewed more than 26,000 times, testament to its power and reach.
One of three daughters of David and Elizabeth Pattison, Fran was born and brought up in Prestatyn, north Wales. After Prestatyn high school, she studied public relations at Cardiff University, then moved to London in 2002 to start her career as an account executive at the consultancy Financial Dynamics. She moved to Lexis PR the following year, and then in 2004 joined Lansons Communications, where she became a partner and, last year, head of marketing.
In London she was able to indulge her great love of music, attending gigs almost every week. She was also a huge Coronation Street fan – very obsessed with it, wouldn't miss an episode. Fran was known affectionately by friends as "Rubes", short for Ruby, a name she loved and which ended up sticking.
Her cancer diagnosis spurred her on to plough her considerable energy and drive into charitable causes. In May 2011, Fran was appointed a candidate trustee at Breast Cancer Care, becoming a permanent trustee in December that year. She also volunteered with the Hackney Pirates, the literacy, creativity and real-world skills charity for young people in east London, and in August last year joined North London Cares, a community network that recruits young professionals and matches them to volunteering opportunities.
In June 2012 Fran married the love of her life, Andy Marvell, in Gretna Green. They confirmed their vows at the New Unity Church in London in September in front of family and friends. The church played an important role in helping Francesca come to terms with her diagnosis. She accepted that her cancer meant she would have a shorter life than many – so she wanted to spend every second with the people who really mattered to her, to embrace each day and to make the most of every moment.
Fran is survived by Andy, her parents and her sisters, Victoria and Georgia.