Paula Mcintyre
West Highland Way
Fundraising for MASScot - Melanoma Action & Support Scotland
Story
On 29th April 2013 I, along with Greg, Sarah, Becky, Alan, Kelly, Fraser, Ali and David will be walking 96 miles in the West Highland Way. This is in aid of MASScot and in memory of my late husband Scott McIntyre who sadly passed away aged 39 to Metastatic Melanoma on the 27th of August 2012.
MASScot is a small but vital charity for people affected by Melanoma. MASScot is run exclusively by volunteers, who currently have or have had the disease or a close member of their family has had the condition. MASScot seek to provide support to family, to educate the public about the condition. They are campaigning to have a Clinical Nurse Specialist available to all patients and support submissions to have new pioneering drugs available to all melanoma sufferers in Scotland.
I have a very personal connection to the work of MASScot. After Scott died, I was trying to come to terms with the months since Scott was diagnosed and then the heartbreak of having to say goodbye to a truly wonderful man and watch him slip away. My grief was overwhelming and impossible to bear at times but I had to keep going for my 4 year old daughter, Caitlin. MASScot support was invaluable to me and they paid for counselling for myself and Scott's mum and dad. This has been such a comfort and given us the opportunity to talk about our loss with a caring and qualified professional who has helped us to cope, come to terms with and try and live everyday without Scott.
Scott was eligible for a drug trial and I have been working closely with MASScot to try and get the trial drug that gave Scott an extra 6 months and quality of life, approved to use in Scotland. I will also be helping to set up MASScot in Edinburgh, this will provide support to other melanoma sufferers and their friends and families. By sponsoring me and my friends, the money raised will help to fund MASScot in Edinburgh which will offer counselling, people to talk to who have experience of melanoma and can provide vital information on other support that is available in the Edinburgh area.
I can't bring Scott back but I want to help others who are battling with Melanoma. Although Scott was battling daily with cancer, he still helped raise money and support others as thats just the caring guy that he was. I want to continue in his footsteps. Scott completed the West Highland Way in 2011 and said it was one of the 'best experiences'. I will be walking with some of the same people that walked with him and they will be doing this to help raise money in his memory.
By raising awareness and educating people about the risks of the sun, I hope they will never have to know the word 'melanoma' and what it it can do.
It's a difficult time financially but if you feel able to donate just a few pounds, it will be so so gratefully received.
Thank you
Paula McIntyre x
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