With her savings going out the window following a shock cancer diagnosis, one student determined to get on with her life has taken to internet strangers to help pay for her university course fees.

Vanessa Pelz-Sharpe, from Edgware, was just 30-years-old when doctors told her the news that she had breast cancer.

Having to undergo chemo and radiotherapy, she also had a strenuous mastectomy operation and must now take a stabilising drug for anywhere between five to ten years.

After her diagnosis last year, the master’s student launched a fundraising page to help her through her treatment and raised more than £4,000 in just a matter of days.

She said: “When I did my fundraiser last year, the money raised helped me get through one of the hardest times of my life.

“It has allowed me to buy new clothes after my mastectomy, as I couldn't lift my arms up for months to put on a jumper and mastectomy bras are expensive.

“It paid my rent and allowed me to occasionally treat myself to a fancy dinner when I wasn't near to being sick.

“It paid for cabs to and from hospital appointments when I was too tired to get the Tube, and now it's helped me graduate from my masters.”

Now 31 and graduating with a creative writing master’s degree from the University of London next month, she has started a new campaign with a target of £2,000.

Having used up all her savings to support herself during her treatment, and continuing her studies, Miss Pelz-Sharpe now needs support from her community to be able to pay her tuition fees.

The university has no funds left to help her pay for the course, and being a student means she is unable to take out a loan, so is hoping people will reach out to help her for the second time.

She said: “Without GoFundMe I don't know how I would have made it through the last two years.

“I have worked so hard to get here, through all my cancer treatment that it would be so disappointing if I had to give up now.

“It's genuinely been so heartening to have so many people help me through the worst time in my whole life.

“So many people say that the internet alienates people from each other but I've found it's connected me to so many wonderful people and they've helped me realise a dream I've had for so long - getting my degree and writing a brilliant book.”

More than 100 people have already donated to the cause, raising a total of £2,010 to date.

To donate, visit http://www.gofundme.com/zf6sa7y