Two women from Newcastle-under-Lyme whose lives have been touched by breast cancer are to walk from North Staffordshire to Llandudno to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research UK and locally-based charity, the Pink Sisters.
Kate Barnard, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 41 and Dawn Tomkinson, who lost her mum, to breast cancer, plan to walk 100 miles over five days, before spending a relaxing weekend with their families in their favourite North Wales seaside resort.
“We will be setting off on Monday, 26th April 2021 with the aim of completing around 20 miles a day,” said Kate. “We chose the distance because we think it is achievable and the end point is a lovely place to spend time with our families. I had the idea in 2019 and invited Dawn along as she’s my regular exercise companion, whether it be the gym, running, yoga, horse riding or walking.
“ I want the walk to both raise money for charities and to highlight the fact that breast cancer can hit people at any time. It is so important to check yourself, which is how I discovered the lump in my breast. I was a healthy 41-year-old, exercised regularly and had no previous health problems, so it came as a huge shock. I had the full support of my husband and vowed to keep positive to set the best example for my young son.”
Kate was treated at the Royal Stoke Hospital and received exceptional care. During her illness she received the full support from Richard Jacobs Pensions & Trustee Services, where she has worked for 20 years and has become Business Manager and Company Director. The staff at the Lymedale Business Park based company are fully behind Kate’s marathon trek and the firm is sponsoring her by gifting a week’s additional leave for the walk which is greatly appreciated.
“We chose the two charities because they support breast cancer sufferers in different ways. It is vital that research is funded as breast cancer is common, with one woman in the UK diagnosed every 10 minutes. That’s around 55,000 a women a year, and 370 men, diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK.
“While the Pink Sisters offers support to breast cancer sufferers, people who have recovered and their families.”
Kate and Dawn, who works for B & B Vending, based on Festival Park, have set a target of £2,000 to be split evenly between the good causes. If you are able to support them, they have a Just Giving page on the internet – www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/nultollandudno.
