Kimberley Rossall, from Thornton Cleveleys, battled a rare form of cancer called Ewings’s sarcoma since she was aged 18. She underwent gruelling and extensive treatment for the disease from September 2009, but was told the cancer was incurable in January 2012. Kim, who inspired everyone she met, was the guest of honour and started Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in Blackpool on Wednesday July 4. She also completed the event along with family and friends despite being desperately poorly at the time .

When Kim initially developed pains in her right leg, she and her family assumed it was due to a sports injury as she was playing a lot of sport at the time. She rested the leg as well as being prescribed antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs by the GP. However, when she also developed a lump in the same spot as the pain, her GP referred her for an MRI scan at Blackpool Victoria Hospital before she was then sent to Manchester Royal Infirmary for a follow-up scan and biopsy. Kim and her family remained convinced she had developed a sports injury and were completely devastated to be told she had a cancerous tumour and needed immediate treatment. Kim, who was only aged 18 at the time, was referred to The Christie hospital’s Young Oncology Unit in Manchester where it was discovered the cancer had already spread to her lungs.

A former Baines School pupil, Kimberley began a gruelling schedule of treatment which included an initial four months of chemotherapy treatment prior to surgery. Kim underwent painstaking surgery at a specialist unit in Oswestry Hospital, Shropshire, to have her right femur and surrounding muscle removed and replaced with titanium. She had then to learn to walk again. Following this she then underwent last chance high dose chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant

 

Sadly though Kimberley lost her battle with the disease just 6 weeks after the race for life event on the 17th of August 2012. 

In order to raise money for The Christie Young Oncology Unit and in memory of my daughter Kimberley, I will this summer  embark on  a Coastal circumnavigation of Great Britain a trip of some 3500+ miles equivalent to riding to Equatorial Guinea in Africa. Starting from my home near Blackpool, I will travel the coast Northwards and across the top of Scotland until I reach John ‘O’ Groats, from there travelling South down the East coast of England to Dover then along the South coast to Lands End. Finally heading back North via the Welsh coastline until I reach home again. The route will involve, where possible, staying as near the sea as I can. Other than a route this is a seat of the pants  adventure, with no plans other than to set off and see what happens. You may follow my trip at

www.facebook.com/KimberleyRossallforChristiesYoungOncologyUnit

For starting date and daily progress reports and pictures.