This is now a memorial fundraiser remembering Our Dearest Darling Beth Walsh, who died in July of metastatic ocular melanoma.

Ocular melanoma is a rare cancer, with only 5-6 new cases per year per million people.

BETH

• Beth was – and is – a much loved mother, wife, daughter, niece, sister, aunt and friend.

• She was a huge supporter of the arts and founder-director of a successful theatre workshop; she had an extensive background in the care and charity sectors, and was also an holistic therapist.

• She was a huge music fan and sang not only with local choir ‘Les Filles Sauvages’ but also with band ‘Low Red Moon'.

• She was a vibrant woman - capable and confident with a strong social conscience and desire to contribute to the greater good of the community – whilst living life to the full!

INSPIRED

• Hopeful but realistic in the face of illness, Beth drew strength from the liberating honesty of the following lines from ‘The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse’ by Charlie Mackesy; and, true to form, much appreciated all who helped her in any way:

“What's the bravest thing you ever said?” asked the boy. “Help” said the horse.

"Imagine how we'd be, if we were less afraid...?? Sometimes I feel lost, said the boy. Me too, said the mole, but we love you, and love brings you home.”

... and INSPIRING

• Beth bore her diagnosis and treatment with amazing courage and humour - and, dare we say, a growing measure of serenity - and explored every avenue to limit the disease with energy and commitment.

• Tributes have spoken of her capacity for generosity in friendship; of the wisdom she imparted; of her tremendous loyalty; and of her special gift to build up meaningful relationships with children and young people. All speak of her (sometimes outrageous!) sense of fun, and laughter that simply spilled over.

• Beth waved the flag for annual eye tests as these would have detected her disease much earlier. As with other conditions, ocular melanoma may have no real symptoms until the cancer has progressed … in some cases too far for it to be treated.

• And, as her mobility became limited, she also advocated for ease of access for wheelchair users

NEW PLANE OF EXISTENCE

• Over the days before her death, friends and family came together in love to join Beth at the family home in Worcester, and everything was calm and peaceful. All happened very organically without any distressing pain or discomfort. Held by her husband, young son and close family, she ‘travelled onto a new plane of existence’ bathed in the light of a beautiful summer’s evening.

H and T CLIENTS CHARITABLE TRUST

• Beth was forever grateful for the £40K granted by the Trustees for her final chemo-saturation treatment (also known as Delcath). Although NICE approved and boasting a significant response rate, Delcath is still not commissioned by the NHS and only available privately at a cost of £120K for the three recommended rounds of treatment.

• The success Beth enjoyed with Delcath helped her outlive the 18-month prognosis she received in July 2020 and extended her life significantly - for which we are so very grateful.

• Beth eagerly endorsed H and T’s ‘pay-it-forward’ philosophy: a grant-recipient fundraises to help cover costs of treatment not available through the NHS for a fellow rare cancer sufferer.

• So, we urge you to join us by making a donation in her memory.

EPILOGUE

Her husband, Philip, summed up his feelings in an extract taken from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by JRR Tolkein – a book in which he and Beth took great delight:

PIPPIN: I didn't think it would end this way.

GANDALF: End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it...

PIPPIN: What? Gandalf? See what?

GANDALF: White shores...and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.

PIPPIN: Well, that isn't so bad.

GANDALF: No. No, it isn't.