Story
‘Embrace, don’t be afraid’
August 9th 2010, was the day that changed my path of life and altered the direction of many others around me.
I was five miles into a run, (my usual daily exercise fix!) when it felt like I had taken a bullet in my abdomen. The pain was over whelming, it totally absorbed all of my energy, taking over every cell in my body, leaving me lying face down on an isolated dirt track in the rain. It was a blessing that I hadn’t been running alone that day.
From that moment, life on my treadmill took a sudden halt. My schedule usually involved juggling between being a mum to my 14 month old little boy, working as a part time Sport Development Officer, running every day, racing when I could, and of course being a wife to my husband of two years.
Suddenly, my diary became full of medical appointments, scans and consultations with doctors, specialists, gynaecologists and surgeons, along with painful nights filled with uncertainty spent in hospital beds.
Eventually I received my diagnosis. I could feel that my body was hurting and that the ‘C disease’ was likely, after all I had always been in tune with my own body, I’d trained as an athlete for 25 years and even competed at international level at my best, those who knew me then would recognise me as Clare Newton. Now at the age of 35, I was aware that there was something terribly wrong! Confirmation hit hard, no amount of preparation would have prepared me for the diagnoses that I received.
The next stage was surgery to remove the tumour growing out of my left Ovary, by the time that happened the mass was obviously petruding out of my abdomen like a swollen melon. Post surgery biopsies concluded that the Cancer was rare, aggressive and had spread, therefore selection of Chemotherapy drugs seemed like a bit of a lottery!
I am currently receiving Chemotherapy at Christies Hospital in Manchester. I am on my third Chemo drug mix; unfortunately the disease broke through the first mix after 5 sessions. Although the second mix was a more intensive regime, consisting of 14 hour sessions once a week, after 3 sessions again the disease broke through. However I remain extremely focussed at all times and confident in my body’s potential to heal.
Although this will be a test of endurance, anything can be achieved with the limitless team support I have around me, comprising professionally from Christies and Cancer Research and personally from my loving family, friends and acquaintances. The most important lesson the disease has taught me, is that it’s not just about me, the disease may have chosen my body but I’m not going through it alone, it’s effected and changed the lives of many around me. I believe that the strength of team work and the uniting of individual spirits and minds will bring about a positive outcome, and will cement the most positive life changes along this journey.
‘Race for Life’ means so much to me as it uses running as the powerful tool to unite individuals in gaining a deeper understanding about the disease that effects so many.’
As someone who has always been very driven and motivated, my next goal is to inspire others to embrace this disease rather than being fearful of it. Although, I’ll still be receiving Chemotherapy when the event takes place, ‘Race for Life’ will provide me with the opportunity to take my first steps along my new path towards achieving this goal.
Sadly Clare's Race for Life finished on the 25th May 2011. Her positivity and wonderful personality has touched many. She would be delighted that staff at Katharine House Hospice Stafford joined family, relatives and friends to complete this race for her and Cancer Research UK.
Clares family would like to thank 'Race for Life' for dedicating the Stafford event in her memory, it was a wonderful occasion and a fitting tribute. We would also like to thank all those those have given to Clares 'gift aid' page and for the beauitful messages of support for Clare. We have posted a few pictures of the event. Well done to all those that took part!