This story came about as a consequence of the devastating loss of my brave husband to prostate cancer in May 2022.  My grief these last 8 months has been the toughest thing I’ve ever had to endure in my life; it still is, but my one major saviour is to walk. It’s my sanctuary, it's where nature does its work. It’s where in difficult times, I try to make sense of the world and my place within it, especially now as memories of us together drift back and forth, leaving their mark and lead me on to wonder who I may become without him.

I always knew that when Richard was no longer with us, I would at some point walk the SWCP with his dog Abi. He knew it too and we talked about it in those last few precious days together. He thought it was a mad idea and worried for my safety - he also knew of course that I’d do it anyway!

And that time is now – so after months of difficult planning and preparing for this wonderful challenge and discovery of a lifetime, we 2 girls are almost ready for the ‘starting line’, or so I thought. But over these last few weeks Abi has been unwell and receiving treatment from our vet.  I have therefore had to make the heartbreaking decision to 'go it alone' and leave her at home to rest with friends.  So on Monday 17 April I shall set off alone to walk 320 miles from Minehead to Falmouth to raise funds for the charity PROSTATE CANCER UK.  I’m feeling both terrified and excited in equal measure and I suspect if Abi could talk she’d be saying the same as Richard – ‘You’re barking mad you are!’

We’d love you to support us on this journey and to help us raise as much as we can for PROSTATE CANCER UK – the charity which helped both Richard and I throughout years of his treatment. It’s the most common cancer in men and from which 12,000 of you die in the UK each year.  It’s unbelievable to me that there is still no National Screening programme out there for you guys to be checked and treated (especially if over the age of 50). If detected in the early stages, this cancer does not mean your life will be limited - it seems so unfair when we woman are regularly checked for breast and cervical cancer and have been for some years.

We need to push hard for this, money talks and so must we -
spread the word!!  Follow me on Instagram for photos and updates from the Walk @onewomanandhisdog

Many thanks Sue & Abi