In 2018 Val Bugden-Cawsey was diagnosed with a rare form of Advanced Malignant Melanoma. For the rest of 2018 she dedicated her energy and enthusiasm into raising funds for research and was very grateful to everyone for their love and support at a very difficult time. Val Bugden-Cawsey passed away at home with her family on 5th January 2019, by this time she had raised in excess of £25,000. It was her hope that funds would continue to be raised after her death and that in the future, someone could be faced with the same diagnosis and be in a better position to face this cancer and win.

 “Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Lets not beat around the bush… in the face of a diagnosis of an advanced and rare type of malignant melanoma I made the decision to focus my energies on raising funds to fight this nasty cancer.

The first event, a walk & cream tea in Launceston, Cornwall on 1st July 2018, was overwhelmingly supported and I am so grateful for all the help and support that made it happen and made it such a humbling success.

Raising funds for a local research project from which many will benefit in the future is giving me a huge positive focus at such a difficult time. Whilst it is absolutely certain that for me, there is no going back from this, I want to do everything in my power to raise funds in the hope that in the future, others will be in a better position to face this cancer and win.

The July 1st event was so successful and seems to have touched so many that the fundraising has become an ongoing campaign with many private individuals, groups and organisations planning events going forward & Plymouth Hospital Charity is directing all funds from this appeal directly into research for advanced malignant melanoma.
So many events have now been organised by so many wonderful people it is almost guaranteed that I will forget someone....

In addition to money added directly to this page, money has been donated directly to myself and the Hospital from private individuals and from fundraisers by: A Prout Ltd, Alphington WI, Bude WI, Hampshire Federation WI, Dartmouth & District Flower Club, Down Thomas & Heybrook Bay WI, Elburton WI, Elburton Young Wives Club, Frithelstock Stone WI, Greystone Border Lodge, Gulworthy & Tavistock WI, Illogan WI, Launceston Men's Probus, Lezant Community Lunch Club, Lezant WI, Lifton WI, Linkenhorne Tuesday Club, Mount Hawke WI, Pilaton WI, Princetown Civil Service Retirement Fellowship, Rotary Club of Launceston, Rotary Club of Launceston Community Shop, Sampford Spiney and Horrabridge WI, T.T.C Luncheon Club, The Good Companions Club (Landulph), The Ladies Club, Trehan WI, Trematon WI, Blunts WI, Dawlish Ladies Guild, Fowey WI, Friends of Little Torrington WI, Harrowbarrow WI, Holsworthy History Society, Launceston St Stephens Golf Club, Loddiswell WI, Marhamchurch WI, Mevagissey WI, Saltash Second (Parsons), Shaldon & Ringmore WI, St Marychurch WI, Whitchurch WI, St Stephen by Launceston WI, Launceston Community Harvest Festival and others!

Every penny raised will as part of this Malignant Melanoma Research Appeal will go to fund a research project based at Derriford Hospital. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their overwhelming support.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.”