On 8th November 2020, we lost our dearly beloved Dad to pancreatic cancer, just 3 1/2 months after diagnosis. Our story is all too common, Dad lived a fit and healthy lifestyle, and was just 67 when we lost him. In 2019 he visited the gp due to sudden onset of diabetes, which he was advised to manage with his already good diet. Some months later he started experiencing back pain. Even though both of these are symptoms of pancreatic cancer, the gp never considered this, and he was given the all clear and told to go and enjoy his retirement. From February onwards, throughout the pandemic he was not seen and was receiving online physio for his back pain which was becoming debilitating. He finally saw a gp in July, and was told to prepare for the worst. He was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer which had spread to his liver and nymph nodes; like most pancreactic cancer patients who go miss-diagnosed before it is too late. The prognosis was bleak, but he was deemed fit enough for chemo, we all knew it was a race against time with this cancer. We knew it was all happening too slowly, and two months later, two days before he was finally due to start treatment, alone in hospital, he was indeed told they had been too slow and treatment was no longer an option and he would not see Christmas. He came home to see out his days. We did all we could to make him comfortable at home while this awful disease ripped through his body causing immeasurable pain to the end. We gave Dad our word that we would raise awareness and funds to stop other people going through this hell, and recieve earlier diagnosis and the chance of treatment. He was an avid walker, so we will be clocking up the miles, and walking the hills we once did with him, as we promised him we would. Nothing has changed in 40 years for this awful cancer, now has to be the time!

Our challenges -

The children aimed to walk over 200 miles in 100 days and I aimed to walk over 500 miles. All walks walked from home,  no driving involved. 

We took part in April - Challenge 24,  by doing 24 push ups every day in April. We hate push ups!

On the 10th April I walked  over 24 miles in one day by walking 32 miles around the Canterbury Outer ring and getting a little lost! 

On the 16th April we took  part in wearing our Pyjamas for 24 hours.  It is the first time I've worn them out for a walk, in a shop and in Morrisons.

On May 1st, the children and I walked 14.3 miles around the Canterbury middle ring.  Massive achievement for a 7 and 9 year old.

On day 85, May 8th, I reached 500 miles and the children about 236 miles. I now hope to reach 1000 miles before Christmas.

On day 100, May 23rd, I reached 562.07 miles. Joshua and Rebekah had walked 263.1 miles.  A huge achievement for all of us and we will all keep walking!

In May we took part in doing 50 Squats a day.

In June, 30 days wild for the Wildlife Trust.  In July we participated in the Big Step Forward.   In August we were busy balanciing school holidays and work with some walking, 

For November to help raise awareness I wrote a story a day, and published it on my creative writing blog, www.justmuddlingthroughlife.co.uk . This was a very hard challenge!

All thirty stories are linked here, 

https://www.marianwood.com/pancreatic-cancer-uk-a-story-a-day-in-november/

Joshua and Rebekah walked over 24 miles in November.  Now on the 8th December, day 300, they have achieved their goal of walking over 500 miles since we started recording our walks on the 13th February.

As of December 31st 2021 I have walked over 1037 miles and Joshua and Rebekah about 539 miles since 13th February 2021.  These are proper boots / trainers on proper outdoor walking miles. 

This page will remain open as long as possible as linked to both my blogs.

The challenges and walking will continue!  Thankyou to everyone for your support and donations!