CANNON HALL FARM FARMER RUTH BURGESS SPEAKS OUT AS HUSBAND DAVE BATTLES TERMINAL CANCER

FARMER RUTH HAS THANKED THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS AS HER FAMILY FACES ONE OF ITS HARDEST CHAPTERS

Behind the animals, farm life and cheerful videos shared with the public, Cannon Hall Farm is facing a deeply painful period.

Farmer Ruth Burgess has spoken publicly after her husband, Dave, was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer.

Dave is undergoing intensive treatment, while Ruth and their two sons face an uncertain future together.

The news has prompted an enormous wave of support from people who have followed Ruth through Cannon Hall Farm, television appearances and social media.

RUTH SPEAKS OUT

In an emotional video shared with supporters, Ruth thanked people who had sent messages and donated to a fundraiser established for her family.

Ruth became visibly emotional as she spoke about the response.

“It’s been very humbling,” she said, thanking supporters for standing behind her family during such a difficult period.

She also acknowledged that the road ahead would not be easy.

“We’ve got a bigger challenge going forward, but we’ll carry on,” Ruth said.

She also expressed gratitude to the team at The Christie in Manchester, which has been involved in Dave’s treatment.

DAVE IS UNDERGOING INTENSIVE TREATMENT

According to the family’s fundraising appeal, Dave is undergoing intensive treatment, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The fundraiser was created to support Ruth, Dave and their two sons during a period when the family is having to focus heavily on treatment and spending time together.

The appeal says the financial support is intended to give the family greater freedom to deal with the situation without additional pressure.

The family has not publicly provided a detailed medical prognosis beyond describing Dave’s condition as stage 4 terminal cancer.

A FUNDRAISER BRINGS TOGETHER THE CANNON HALL COMMUNITY

A GoFundMe campaign was launched on July 10, 2026, by Jacqui Tymon on behalf of Maryann Bestford.

The original target was set at £24,000.

The latest available figures show the fundraiser had received approximately £19,843 from more than 1,000 donors, putting it well on the way toward the target.

The campaign asks supporters to contribute only what they can afford.

It also stresses that sharing the appeal or simply sending a message of support can make a difference.

For Ruth and her family, the response has demonstrated how strong the relationship has become between the farm and its wider audience.

RUTH HAS BECOME A FAMILIAR FACE TO THOUSANDS

Cannon Hall Farm is a family-run attraction in South Yorkshire, and its farmers have become increasingly familiar to audiences through television and social media.

Ruth has appeared regularly in the farm’s online content, giving followers glimpses of animal care and everyday life on the farm.

For many supporters, that has created a sense of familiarity with Ruth and her family even though they have never met them personally.

Now, after learning about Dave’s diagnosis, many of those same followers have rallied around them.

Messages of encouragement have poured in alongside donations to the fundraiser.

FROM FARM LIFE TO A FAMILY CRISIS

Cannon Hall Farm is normally associated with animals, family days out and the cheerful personalities of the people who work there.

But behind the scenes, Ruth and Dave are dealing with a much more difficult reality.

Their two sons are also facing the uncertainty that comes with having a seriously ill parent.

The fundraising appeal says the family’s priority is being together and making memories while Dave undergoes treatment.

That has resonated strongly with supporters who have followed the farm for years.

“WE’LL CARRY ON”

Despite the seriousness of the diagnosis, Ruth’s message has not been one of giving up.

Instead, she has thanked supporters and made clear that her family intends to keep moving forward.

“We’ve got a bigger challenge going forward, but we’ll carry on,” she said.

Those few words have become particularly poignant for people following the family’s story.

The diagnosis has changed the family’s daily life, but Ruth continues to focus on Dave, their children and the people around them.

SUPPORT CONTINUES TO GROW

The response to the fundraiser has shown the depth of feeling among the Cannon Hall Farm community.

More than 1,000 people have contributed, while countless others have shared messages of love and encouragement.

The appeal’s organisers say the money is intended to ease some of the pressures facing the family and allow them to concentrate on what matters most.

For Ruth, every message and donation represents another reminder that her family is not facing the difficult months ahead alone.

A FAMILY FACING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

There are no easy answers for Ruth, Dave and their children right now.

Dave continues treatment.

Ruth continues to support him.

And their two sons remain at the centre of their lives as the family tries to navigate an uncertain future.

The wider Cannon Hall Farm community has responded by offering financial help, messages and emotional support.

For a family whose lives are normally centred around caring for animals and sharing the realities of farm life with the public, this is now a deeply personal chapter.

Ruth has thanked everyone who has stood beside them.

And despite the heartbreaking circumstances, her message remains clear:

There is a bigger challenge ahead — but the family will carry on.