Our Story

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

In September 2009 the happy world we lived in changed forever and was turned upside down when my beautiful wife Judith and adoring Mum to our two children Michael and Katie was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.

In December 2010, one week before Christmas we were told that her cancer was inoperable, untreatable and therefore effectively terminal – but she never gave up.

Through all our tears and sadness Jude was incredibly brave, dignified and above all in spite of her situation was still able to smile for everyone as she has always done.

She somehow continued bravely on with her life and continued with her treatments which we desperately had to seek out.

Devastatingly for us and all our family and friends, at the age of just 45 years old Judith passed away at Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham on Sunday the 27th November 2011.

It is very difficult to speak and write of Judith in the past tense as I/we feel and know she is still around us and still looking after us all.

She was and will always be a beautiful lady in every sense in our hearts and minds – loving, kind, caring, friendly, easy going, honest, hard working, fun, naturally pretty – an amazing wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunty, daughter in law and sister in law and friend.

It must be said as well how incredibly proud Jude must be of Michael and Katie as I am in the way they have bravely coped with our situation, their Mother’s genes and qualities have certainly been passed on.

Cancer has already or will affect you or someone you know either directly or indirectly at some point in your life. So in light of this please continue reading and please make a donation. Thankyou.

In Memory of Jude

Jude was a committee member of the Mold branch of North West Cancer Research and was committed to raising awareness and funds for of all forms of cancer.

2012 is not only the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year, it also marks the 60th anniversary of the Mold branch of NWCR and to celebrate this milestone they are hoping to raise £60,000 via various charity events.

My brother in law Peter Dutton (who has had testicular cancer) and his good friend Ian Gibson (who has had colorectal cancer) have always wanted to walk the Coast to Coast footpath across the North of England (Officially 196 miles - more details below)

Peter said that they would like to take on this walking challenge in Judith’s memory in order to raise funds for the charity which was close to her heart.

I will be joining Peter and Ian as well as my Dad (David, Dave or Dai at the young age of 74 and subject to his dodgy knee injury being ok) along with numerous others who will join us on various days of this 14 day route (you’re invited too - see below) to raise money for the North West Cancer Research Fund.

But first.....

Ovarian Cancer Awareness

During her illness Jude was concerned at the general lack of awareness and knowledge of the signs and symptoms of Ovarian Cancer. By attempting this walk we also aim to raise the profile of Ovarian Cancer and the signs and symptoms of this cancer which has been described as a silent killer.

Please visit these websites for information on Ovarian Cancer and its signs and symptoms. Should you or anyone you know be experiencing such symptoms then always seek good medical advice and get THOROUGHLY checked out ASAP until you feel totally confident in the diagnosis you receive.

http://www.nwcrf.co.uk/O-Very_Campaign.asp

http://www.ovarian.org.uk/ovarian-cancer/

Now more details on the walk!!

We are aiming to start walking the 196 miles from St. Bees Head in Cumbria on Saturday 5th of May, across the north of England, to complete at Robin Hood's Bay on the east coast some 14 days later on Saturday 19th May.

It is our hope that we will be joined by lots of friends and well wishers for parts of our journey, maybe for 1, 2 or even the full 14 days !! ..... the more the merrier !!...... All we ask if you would like to join us, is that you organise your own sponsorship or give a good donation so we can raise as much money as possible to go towards our £60,000 target. As with life, it is our intention to enjoy the walk and have fun on the way.

On route we will be staying in B&Bs and local pubs, our schedule is posted below, so anybody wishing to take part can arrange their own B&Bs, transport etc.

Dates & Destinations

Friday 4th May St.Bees Cumbria staying ay Stone House Farm

Saturday 5th walk 14.5 miles to Ennerdale Bridge staying at Ennerdale View B&B

Sunday 6th 16.5 miles to Borrowdale staying at Thornythwaite Farm.

Monday 7th9.5 miles to Grasmere staying at Glenthorne.

Tuesday 8th7.5 miles to Patterdale staying at Old Water View.

Wednesday 9th16 miles to Shap staying at The Hermitage.

Thursday 10th 20.3 miles to Kirby Stephan staying at Old Croft House.

Friday 11th 14.5 miles to Keld syaying at Keld Lodge.

Saturday 12th 14 miles to Reeth staying at The Kings Arms.

Sunday 13th 10.8 miles to Richmond staying at The Old Brewery.

Monday 14th 14miles to Danby Wiske staying at The White Swan & Ashfield.

Tuesday 15th 12miles to Ingleby Cross staying at Somerset House Farm.

Wednesday 16th 11 miles to Claybanktop staying at Ingle Hill in Great Broughton.

Thursday 17th 8.5 miles to Blakey Ridge staying at Feversham Arms.

Friday 18th 14 miles to Grosmont staying at Grosmont House.

Saturday 19th 15.5 miles Robins Hood Bay staying at The Wayfarer, Raven House & Rounton House.

We must stress at this point that we, or anybody who joins us, will be funding the trip our/themselves, ALL of the sponsorship money will be going to the NWCRF. At least 90p from every pound raised goes directly to research centres at Bangor and Liverpool.

You may sponsor me and/or my Dad on this JustGiving site or you can donate offline to us directly. Alternatively you may sponsor Peter or Ian on their just giving site. Either way all the money raised all goes to North West Cancer Research Fund in Judith’s memory.

http://www.justgiving.com/Peter-Dutton

http://www.justgiving.com/Ian-Gibson6

Please, please give as generously as you can.... I know we all get fed up of hearing about the next "good cause" but this cancer research really is important.... or is going to be for 67% of us! Worryingly, this research is entirely dependent on private funding and sponsorship such as this!

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 and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

A cure for all cancers may not just be around the corner just yet but by donating you’ll be speeding up the process, leaving your mark in your lifetime on the fight against cancer for your family, your children and your children’s children.

Thank you so much for your support