Walking for Francesca



On the 21st of October 2016 my Mum Francesca passed away from metastatic breast cancer.

She handled her disease with courage and grace for nearly a decade. I want to do something challenging and practical in honour of her memory. With my two best friends (Georgie Walker and Cath Wild) I am planning to walk the Parish Walk on the Isle of Man this June. Since starting this campaign we have grown in numbers! Cath's Dad, Jon Wild (a very experienced 'Parish Walker'), has joined the ranks. Along with my Dad, who will be leading the 'Oldies Team' with three of my Godparents - Fee Anderson, Susan Bannenburg and Robert Markwick.

The Parish Walk is an historic annual event on the Isle of Man that involves walkers following a prescribed route through all the parishes on the island totalling 85 miles. It began in 1853 and passes through eighteen parishes. Many walkers use the event to raise money for charity.

We want to raise money for The Christie Breast Cancer Research Fund (registered charity number: 1049751). The Christie treated and looked after my Mum for many years and were extraordinarily kind and practical. In their eyes there was always another route to be tried and gave us as much time with my Mum as was possible. 

The Christie is an amazing place. For a hospital that only treats cancer patients it is genuinely upbeat. The positive environment is down to the people that work there. The Christie has many wonderful, hard working individuals and I feel honoured to have met so many of them, just as some of them said they were honoured to have treated my Mum. 

So, to try to give Mum’s death a little more meaning we want to raise as much money for this charity as we can. It goes without saying that any amount of support, large or small, means a great deal to us three walkers and to my family. 

We plan to walk 20+ miles per week for training ... who needs a dissertation anyway? Georgie is our 'experienced' walker - she completed the under 21 section of the Parish Walk two years ago, so she will have to lead the way. We aim to walk to Peel which is 33 miles and anything extra is a bonus. This is further than Cath and I have ever walked and the last time Georgie limped over the line she said she'd never do it again. So it looks like we'll be needing a little luck.

My Mum fought her illness with astounding positivity and true grit, and I’m convinced she’ll be sending strength from on high especially on those beastly hills.

Cancer is a disease that impacts so many lives. I believe it is important to acknowledge that cancer can be lived with, as Mum did so positively, and one day cured. 

With much love,  

Imogen, Cath and Georgie.