A much-loved County Durham play café has renewed its plea for help after the owner was diagnosed with a second, separate cancer.
Lynn Hammel-Randall from Consett has been forced to close Clart About Sensory Cafe multiple times over the past year after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2025.
Nearly a year later, in July 2026, the mum-of-five received the devastating news that she had been diagnosed with a separate primary thyroid cancer.
Lynn with children Molly-Rose, Ryan, Adam, Daniel-Wilson.
(Image: LYNN HAMMEL-RANDALL)
Lynn set up the café in 2018 and has supported hundreds of families, spurred on by her experience of post-natal depression after the birth of her son, Thomas.
Due to the first diagnosis, the second diagnosis and all of the hospital appointments in between, Lynn and her husband, Mark, have had no other option but to close the café more often.
That has prompted them to launch a fundraising drive to help support the cafe.
Lynn with husband Mark and kids Adam and Daniel-Wilson.
(Image: LYNN HAMMEL-RANDALL)
Lynn said: "It just feels surreal to have two completely separate cancers at the same time.
"I’m due to have another operation in September and apparently the cancer I have on my thyroid is more of an aggressive kind.
"It’s just been rubbish.
"I was coming to the end of the chemo and the radiotherapy for the breast cancer and here I am facing exactly the same thing again."
The café is a non-profit venture, which makes it harder for Lynn and Mark to close.
"We wanted to be there to support the community," said Lynn.
"It falls heavily on our shoulders, and we’ve now had over a month off since August last year and that takes a massive toll on us.
"We’re the ones who have to pay the bills and that’s what the fundraiser is for – just to fill those little gaps on the days that we close and can’t make any income."
Lynn and Mark have run the café by themselves since its creation in 2014.
Lynn and her husband Mark.
(Image: LYNN HAMMEL-RANDALL)
Lynn said her customers have been very supportive, adding: "They’ve been fantastic and loads of them have messaged and asked how I am.
"It’s fantastic, but it’s equally as isolating – a lot of people just don’t know what to say to you or how to deal with it.
"That would always be my message – if you know someone dealing with something like this, just message them and ask how they’re doing.
"Treat them normally, don’t just disappear."
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The GoFundMe has raised more than £3,500, which will help support the café and Lynn’s family.
She added: "We see how important the café is to people.
"We want to still be there on the other end of this horrible nightmare that seems to be never-ending at the moment."