In April 2024 I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, a form of Blood Cancer and began 6 months of intensive chemotherapy at Queen’s Hospital Burton on Trent. It was a gruelling time: the cocktail of drugs was harsh, together with the side effects from steroids and the hair loss, which was probably the hardest part of the whole treatment. Defiantly, I bought the brightest clothes and wore the brightest coloured green shoes, now my signature attire. And through it all the haematology and oncology nurses provided fantastic care, expert needlework, gentle hands and a very valuable sense of humour. When my veins failed, they were there to expertly cannulate and I never went home with a failed treatment. Truly expert needlewomen! The oncology ward was my fortnightly routine and safe haven. There was always someone at the end of the phone, to reassure; a smiling nurse to greet and then to sit and chat to as the cocktails were administered. Truly special people in a world of uncertainty.

In December 2024 I received the news that the cancer was no longer present and I was officially in remission. Declan and myself have worked hard to re- gain fitness. Initially, a walk to the gate was a challenge, but slowly we have built up and extended our routes from a circuit of the village, to a forest walk or a National Trust trail.We spent April in Menorca, walking the Cami de Cavalls, the coastal route. This was our training ground. We knew we were ready to take on something slightly longer and more challenging and we returned to our original plans.

And so it is for the wonderful people and the work of the Oncology and Haematology Teams at Queen’s Hospital, Burton, that we are walking the ‘Camino’ in Northern Spain in September.

82.8 miles or 133.25 km. Baiona to Santiago de Compostela over 6 days.

I have only praise for the treatment I received from NHS and want to give something back and to provide additional equipment, such as a vein finder, so that other people’s experiences are made slightly more comfortable and less daunting.

I hope you will be able to support my fundraising walk, but if not your thoughts and prayers as we walk the ‘pilgrim route’ will be gratefully received and will encourage us on our walk so that we enjoy a ' Buen Camino.'

Thank you for reading my fundraising page.