After the success of our Firewalk last November we have signed up for the next challenge which is the Midnight Walk on 1st July 2023 to raise funds for St Luke’s Hospice. It is an 11 mile walk from Reaseheath, Nantwich to Crewe and we are reliably informed that it is an amazing event to take part in and that there are toilets along the way! We have the Firewalk team taking part again, Helen, Sam and Hannah plus we have roped a few others into it too so Debbie, Lesley E, Claire S, Ceri-Ann, Charlotte and Louise. The more the merrier so if anybody else would like to join us please just let us know.

Everyone was so generous last time and it was very much appreciated, if anyone is able to spare a small amount then we really would appreciate it.

We are doing this in support of our friend and colleague Helen…

From Helen… I am touched that people who don’t particularly live in our local area are still wanting to take part in it. It is such a vital charity in our area and one which relies heavily on fundraising and donations. For me personally they have been my lifeline and I know that anyone else who has had dealings with them through family or friends will know how important the services which they provide are, and how kind and compassionate all of the staff are too.

You can’t get through a cancer diagnosis without the support of your family and friends but sometimes you don’t feel like you can offload everything that you are feeling on to them, either that or you think that they are probably sick of hearing you on about it! It is so important to have somebody else that you can talk to which is a service which St Luke’s provides, along with complimentary therapies such as reflexology to help you get through the treatment. After my chemotherapy and radiotherapy finished, I was left with the lingering doubts of what happens next, or will it come back and I was told that this is quite normal, some people will say try not to think about it but it’s not always that easy and there is always a niggle in the back of your mind. St Luke’s referred me to a wonderful hypnotherapist who specialises in helping cancer patients to move on and I don’t think that I would be where I am today without his help. Thankfully my active treatment has now finished, but the surgery has left me with lymphoedema in my right hand, this is a condition which cannot be cured but can be managed through exercise and compression garments, I have access to the specialised lymphoedema clinic at St Luke’s. Then there is the medication which I have to take for the next 10 years, due to the side effects they like to keep a close eye on me so I have monthly blood tests, these have to be carried out by a Christie’s phlebotomist who I can go and see at St Luke’s rather than having a 60 mile round trip to Christie’s each month. These are just a few of the services which they provide for outpatients, not to mention the very special inpatients who they look after and care for. People say that cancer is the gift that keeps on giving and it really is, with lasting side effects but I will take all of that, as I am still here with my family and able to watch my boys grow up.

If you have got this far then thank you for reading, I have put in a couple of photos from our Firewalk event which was an amazing night and I hope that the Midnight Walk will be just as much of a positive experience.