HERE WE GO AGAIN - GOING FOR MY HAT-TRICK

I am a Pancreatic Cancer Survivor of 8 years. More than half of those diagnosed don't make it past 3 months

I realise that I am a 'one in a million' and extremely lucky to still be alive.

My life has changed irrevocably. One of the most important things for me now is my time. I am determined to use that time to enjoy my life and live it to the max but also to donate some of this precious commodity to help others in a similar position, so they can make the most of their lives too. That's why I volunteer for PCUK and hoping to fund 6 months of research into early diagnosis screening.

I know its a big ask to raise £5,000 in this 'cost of living crisis' , but the fact that 80% of people are diagnosed too late for potentially curative treatment is the REAL COST OF LIVING .

Just £5 from 1,000 people will help me achieve this target and help save lives - to enjoy the opportunity I had - to live.

My husband Paul and I are doing this together as we have been through so much together having met when we were both 16. Neither of us are hardcore regular hikers but this will be the 3rd time we have done different routes across the Alps over the last 3 years training hard in our local hills and mountains and fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer and last year for Tenovus Cancer Care.

Start Point is Oberstdorf, Germany and finish in Merano, Italy. 195 km and the equivalent climb of Everest and a half....

This is my very brief story:

30 years ago, I was a theatre sister assisting with general and specialist liver and pancreatic surgery. I never once thought I would be the one on the operating table.

During a holiday in 2013, I experienced extreme upper abdominal pain for the first time. I visited a local hospital where I was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and had my gallbladder removed once home.

However, the following year I felt the same intense pain. After tests at a local hospital, I was told I had probably malignant pancreatic cysts and my only option was to have my pancreas removed. Not happy with this drastic move, I found and requested a referral to a highly specialised professor in Newcastle. He and his expert team performed a Whipple’s operation, which is the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic cancer. It was confirmed that the cysts had been cancerous, and I opted for chemotherapy too. After those grueling sessions, I lived happily and healthily for five years until I felt that familiar pain.

Scans showed multiple pancreatic cysts but this time, there were no other options, and had my pancreas and spleen removed in Jan 2021. I'm adjusting to life without my pancreas and am an unstable diabetic which is challenging to manage... but I'm doing my best and managing well.

I quit my job as a nurse manager after I found out about my diagnosis, as I really thought it was the beginning of a very quick end for me so now I’m dedicated to improving public & healthcare awareness.

I’m proud that I was invited to Parliament by PCUK to speak with MP’s to raise awareness and fund research into early diagnosis and have collaborated with various regional healthcare teams for optimal clinical pathways for patients.

In 2022 I co-ordinated a medical team and packed thousands of tonnes of medical aid for Ukraine, and became a trustee of Women of Newport in July 2023 I was appointed Girlguiding County Commissioner, and now a Trustee of Girlguiding Cymru.

I’m busy and I love it.

I'm doing this challenge as its not at all easy. I want this to be a challenge. It’s a logistical nightmare as a type 3c diabetic....with all the meds and food, exercise, temperature and altitude factors to consider….., but this is something I am absolutely resolute in doing and I want to be able to say "I've done this". I want people to realise that there is a future for them and there is hope.... if you are positive in your approach, plan well, and have a little bit of luck on your side - you can do anything.

PCUK is dedicated to supporting people with pancreatic cancer now, campaigning, and funding vital research to transform the future.

Your donations will help them to make the breakthroughs that people with pancreatic cancer, like me, so desperately need.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts !