graham carey says he is “heartbroken beyond words” after the death of his partner, Rachel Borthwick, who had been fighting an incurable form of breast cancer since first finding a lump in 2021. The announcement follows a multi-year campaign of treatment overseas, public fundraising and a close family presence in her final days.
What happened?
Rachel Borthwick documented a prolonged battle with aggressive breast cancer, described in fundraising materials as triple negative and as having recurred on multiple occasions. She underwent treatment in Germany and later travelled to India in search of further options. New tumours grew and spread to both lungs, bones and possibly her brain, and she died with her parents by her side.
A public fundraising page set up to help pay for alternative and overseas treatment raised more than £150, 000. Those public elements of the campaign were paired with private decisions by the family to seek care beyond standard local options.
Graham Carey: public tributes and private grieving
Carey, who is on loan at Dunfermline from another club, missed recent matches to spend time with Rachel. He posted a long tribute on social media describing the difficulty of explaining the loss to their children and calling Rachel their “beautiful Mummy and best friend. ” His message said the children were her whole world and that they could take comfort that she was no longer in pain.
Football organizations connected to his career expressed their sadness and extended condolences to the family. Friends, family and the wider community rallied around the family while also asking for privacy as they come to terms with the loss.
- Diagnosis: Lump first found in 2021; cancer characterised as an incurable, aggressive form.
- Treatments: Care undertaken in Germany, then travel to India for further options.
- Progression: Tumours spread to lungs, bones and possibly the brain prior to her death.
- Support: Public fundraising raised over £150, 000 to help fund treatment and ease financial pressure.
- Family impact: Carey missed matches to be with Rachel and has publicly addressed their children’s loss.
What comes next for the family and those around them?
The immediate priorities signalled by the family are private grief and care for the children. The fundraising effort and public sharing of Rachel’s illness had created a network of support; family members have acknowledged that support while requesting privacy as they process the bereavement.
For Carey, the near-term choices include balancing professional commitments with family needs and the emotional recovery of his children. The public statements and club messages underline a community response but also emphasise that the family has asked for space to grieve.
Uncertainty remains around long-term implications for the family’s wellbeing and for Carey’s playing availability; those outcomes will unfold over time as the family sets its own pace. In the weeks ahead the priority is clear: respectful distance from the public and support that allows the children and family to begin rebuilding after this loss, a reality that graham carey himself has underlined.
