Caitlin Leggett, a 24-year-old woman from Cardiff, died suddenly from a brain bleed on June 15, 2026, just weeks after launching a fundraising campaign for life-saving cancer treatment in the United States. Her family had set a goal of £500,000 to cover treatment and associated costs, but Caitlin’s health declined rapidly before the funds could be used.
Diagnosis and Discovery of Identical Twins
Caitlin was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in April 2025 after developing a persistent rash. Her urgent need for a stem cell transplant led to the surprising discovery that she and her sister Grace were actually identical twins, not fraternal as they had believed their entire lives. Following months of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant in December 2025, Caitlin achieved complete remission.
However, in May 2026, doctors found the cancer had returned. Caitlin was told she had only six months to live under the treatment options available in the UK, prompting the family to seek potentially curative treatment abroad, most likely in the US.
Fundraising and Sudden Decline
The family launched a GoFundMe page on June 2, 2026. By June 10, they had raised £100,000. But on Saturday, June 13, Caitlin suffered a sudden, serious brain bleed, followed by a series of strokes. Her health deteriorated quickly, and she passed away at 2:42 am on Monday, June 15, surrounded by her family: twin Grace, brother Ethan, 27, sister Neve, 19, and parents Jennifer, 54, and Ian, 57.
“It was really hard,” said Grace. “We all got the chance to speak to her. Neve put her favourite pillow spray on, we massaged her hands with lotion, and the nurses gave us a memory box with special paper and a charcoal wipe, so we could take her footprints and hand prints.” Grace played piano for her sister, and Caitlin died peacefully while music from her favourite pianist, Patrik Pietschmann, played on a speaker.
Gratitude for a Peaceful Passing
Grace expressed relief that Caitlin’s death was quick. “I’m just really glad she wasn’t aware of what happened to her. She told me (when she learned she had) six months that she was scared of dying, but I think she was scared of a slow death, knowing she could die in six months. So I’m just really grateful that it was really quick, and she didn’t know.”
“We’re only 24 – nobody expects this to happen… Being twins as well, you’re not supposed to have one twin not be there,” she added.
A Close Bond and Final Memories
Caitlin and Grace had always been very close, sharing a student house while studying at the University of Bristol. During Caitlin’s illness, Grace quit her job as a complex care personal assistant in Bristol to move back to Cardiff and be closer to family. The twins grew up in Cardiff with siblings Ethan and Neve.
The morning before Caitlin was admitted to hospital for the final time, she, Grace, and Neve went to try on bridesmaids’ dresses together. Their father and his partner, Sarah, were planning a wedding, and Caitlin was to be Sarah’s maid of honour. “She mentioned to a couple of people that she was the happiest that she’d ever been in her last two weeks,” said Neve. “Even the morning of, we all tried on bridesmaids dresses together, in the shop, which was really lovely to have that last thing. Even though she won’t be there for the wedding, we got to get dressed up, all together.”
Family Tributes
Ethan recalled Caitlin’s humour: “She was just really funny. It’s not the type of funny that’s just telling jokes, it’s sibling banter that just bounces off each other – we’re just one upping each other, like tennis.”
Their mother Jennifer described Caitlin as “a warm, bubbly, humble and loving daughter who was considerate and endlessly kind to others. She was fiercely independently-minded and stoic in her attitude to life. Her intelligent and intrinsically motivated character glowed with a free and easy spirit.”
Father Ian said: “From Caitlin living back home, we appreciated more of her as a person rather than just a daughter – we learnt things we wouldn’t have known otherwise and are so grateful for, despite the illness. For example, she was very unapologetically messy! Caitlin would always have a comeback, such as that being messy was a sign of intelligence!” Ian praised her “fighting spirit” and “ability to live in the now and not worry about things outside of her control.” “Caitlin was very positive and had the outlook that things will always be OK in the end, and if it’s not OK, it’s not the end.”
Fundraising Legacy
On June 27, the family paused the GoFundMe, which had raised £127,722. Grace said the money will largely go to charity. A donation will be made to Teenage Cancer Trust to fund a Lead Nurse for the Cardiff and South Wales area for a year. A second donation will go to Leukaemia UK to fund a research grant supporting new leukaemia treatments. A small amount will honour Caitlin’s legacy through tree planting, memorial plaques, school awards, and a dedicated piano in the hospital.
