Gaynor's Story

I first felt unwell in September 2022. I was tired, and couldn’t run up the stairs as I had previously been able to. I was feeling a bit sick. I had lost about 2 stone very quickly and as everyone who knows me will remember, I have been on an unsuccessful diet for the last 25 years. I thought I had better get it checked out.

Sadly, tests over the following months showed that I had a Cholangiocarcinoma – a rare type of cancer that develops in the bile duct.

I had chemotherapy for 9 months, stayed positive, carried on working and caught up with lots of family and friends. I moved onto a newly approved Chemotherapy drug which was successful in keeping the cancer at bay.

Unfortunately, in September 2023 I had a pain in my back that turned out to be a secondary cancer in the bones at the bottom of my back, affecting the nerves in my spine. The bone cancer had also spread to my jaw and ribs.

After two weeks in hospital at the beginning of this year, and 10 radiotherapy treatments on my spine and jaw, I’m home and doing well. I can’t walk far but luckily for everyone around me, I can talk as much as ever. I’ve been very positive throughout and have had a large group of supportive family and friends.

My family have been receiving support from the Ruth Strauss Foundation over the past few months, making it easier to talk openly, make plans and support each other.

We decided that a sponsored walk would be a fantastic way to get together with family and friends and to say thank you to the Ruth Strauss Foundation.

I will be there at the start, at lunchtime, and at the finish and will join you to walk as far as I am able.

I hope you can make it! If not, it would be amazing if you could sponsor us.

The Route

We're walking 20km from Chertsey to Windsor, starting at 10.30am on Friday 19th April 2024.

If you'd like to join us email Gaynor and she'll send you all the details.

You're more than welcome to join us for the whole walk, for any section of the walk - or just for lunch!

Everyone is welcome, as are dogs on a lead.

Lunch will be at The Magna Carta Trust Tearooms in Old Windsor at approx. 1.30pm.

We'll share our location on the day, so you know where to find us.

Find out more about the route here:

https://ethosmetrics.com/walking-with-gaynor/

Win an England Football Shirt signed by the current team, a partly signed England Football Shirt, or a Breakfast for two at The Kitchen in Wraysbury.

Prizes.

1st Prize: A fully signed England Shirt.

2nd Prize: A partly signed England Shirt.

3rd Prize: A Breakfast for two people at The Kitchen in Wraysbury.

The football shirts are on display at The Kitchen in Wraysbury.

Terms.

Minimum donation to be eligible is £5.

One entry per person.

Donations must be made directly via the Walking with Gaynor Just Giving Page:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/walking-with-gaynor/

You must mention the football shirt in your comments when donating and include your name and email address in the given field on the site.

Please do not tick the Gift Aid box when entering. You can't claim Gift Aid when potentially receiving something in return.

Once you have donated, your name will be entered into a draw. If you have already donated and would like to be entered into the draw, please email Gaynor at gaynor@ethosmetrics.com

Last donations to be eligible for the competition are Sunday 21st April 2024.

The winner will be drawn on Monday 22nd April and your prize will be available for collection from The Kitchen from that date or can be posted to a UK address if preferred.

About The Ruth Strauss Foundation

In the summer of 2018, Ruth Strauss was diagnosed with an inoperable form of lung cancer that attacks non-smokers.

She was given just a year to live.

Ruth died on in December 2018, leaving behind her husband, Sir Andrew Strauss, and their two young boys - Sam & Luca.

In 2019 Sir Andrew launched the Ruth Strauss Foundation in her memory.

The Ruth Strauss Foundation's aim is to provide emotional, psychological and wellbeing support to patients and their families going through similar experiences.

“The idea of setting up the foundation came up with Ruth in the last few months of her life. Ruth desperately wanted to help those affected by this terrible disease and she had a very strong sense of charity – in the broadest sense – of helping others, less fortunate than ourselves”.

Thank you to the Ruth Strauss Foundation for the support provided to Gaynor and her family.