Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I am raising money for The Christie, who gave us the gifts of hope and extra time with Howard. 

I am now approaching the end of my Dales30 challenge which I began in October 2021. Only 2 more peaks to go which I hope to complete in September. My thanks to everyone who has given so generously in memory of Howard and to members of Clitheroe Mountaineering Club who have planned and led the walks and been there through out. You are amazing!!

Following Clitheroe Bike Club's memorial bike ride and our wonderful Celebration of Life weekend for Howard in September, I have now begun a new challenge of climbing 30 Dales mountains, supported by friends and members of Clitheroe Mountaineering Club.

In May 2019 we received the devastating news that Howard had a rare and complicated form of AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia), and sadly had very little hope of a cure. Howard very bravely decided that intensive chemotherapy, which only offered a very small chance of remission, was not for him. The prognosis was very short – maybe 3 to 6 months. We decided to enjoy as much of life as we could while Howard felt fit and well, and despite bouts of tiredness and some circulatory problems, we managed small trips away to Bristol, Plymouth, Jersey, the Lakes, the Dales. Not quite the travelling we had planned for our retirement, but we enjoyed life as much as possible and spent time with family, especially 1-year-old granddaughter Dot.

By August we were pleased, but surprised, that Howard was still doing quite well. We asked for a second opinion and found ourselves at The Christie haematology department. They confirmed that the AML was progressing and that all we had been told previously was correct. However, the specialists knew of a new drug, then still unlicensed in the UK, and fought for Howard to receive it. Suddenly, we were given HOPE when previously there was NO HOPE. It took several weeks for approval to come through, during which time Howard's condition worsened and he was an inpatient at The Christie when the drug finally arrived.

It seemed a miracle at the time: within days Howard's symptoms disappeared. We began to live again! Howard bought an e-bike so that he could get out on the road and feel part of Clitheroe Bike Club again. We looked forward to Christmas and Howard danced the night away in Keswick at the annual CMC Christmas meet. Christmas that year was very special because we had never expected him to still be with us. The Christie gave us that! February 2020 saw us holidaying again, this time in Arran. Then came March 2020 and lockdown. Life became a lot more difficult, as it did for everybody. Howard continued his cycling – this time on a turbo trainer on the patio, making the most of the beautiful weather and keeping as fit as possible. When lockdown was eased, we were able to creep away to our caravan near Appletreewick. This became our haven and we were able to see friends and family there, enjoying the outdoors, BBQs and some amazing sunsets.

Howard's wonder drug, those three little pills each day, kept Howard going for 15 months until the Leukemia cells again began to multiply, which we always knew they would. We said goodbye to Howard in December 2020.

Many of the photos in the gallery on this page are of memories we would not have it if weren’t for The Christie – they gave us so much extra time which Howard enjoyed to the full. I will forever be indebted to the staff at The Christie haematology department. It is my wish to continue raising and donating money directly to The Christie for their work in researching and finding new treatments, like Gilteritinib to fight Leukemia, in the hope that one day others may win their battles.