Local Mum Shows her Star Quality by Stepping out in Support of Families Affected by Cancer for the 8th Annual StarWalk
Mum of two Sarah Abbott is lacing up her trainers ahead of one of the area’s biggest charity events ‘The CancerCare StarWalk’ in support of local people affected by cancer - and is urging others to join her!
The 8th Annual StarWalk takes place on Saturday 26th April at 9pm from The Lakes Leisure Centre in Kendal where participants can choose to run, walk or jog the 15km night time route. Organised by local cancer support charity CancerCare, the annual StarWalk event has fast become one of the biggest of its kind in Cumbria with over 500 local people expected to take part this year. And local resident Sarah – who was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 - will be amongst them.
Sarah, aged 47 says:
“The unique thing about the StarWalk is that welcomes men, women and children to take part which isn’t the case with some other charity night walks. Cancer can affect us all regardless of age or gender.”
CANCERCARE:
CancerCare supports local people just like Sarah whose lives are affected by cancer as well as their families, carers and anyone who has been bereaved by cancer. They offer a wide range of free professional support services delivered by experienced and qualified staff including counselling, hypnotherapy, aromatherapy massage, creative art therapies and exercise classes to name but a few. The charity also offers a dedicated Children and Young People’s Service for children as young as three.
Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2011 but is still very much in recovery from her illness today.
She says:
“People think that once you’ve had your chemotherapy then you get better. But for me it was not like that at all. The cancer affected me in ways I didn’t think it would. Although the Oncology team at the hospital were brilliant, once I had finished all my treatment I felt completely lost. I no longer had that network of support around me.”
“Cancer is so much more than a physical disease – it affects your confidence and the way you feel about yourself. It also affects the rest of your family and puts a huge strain on all your relationships. Our emotions were just all over the place. Then I heard about CancerCare.”
“They offered me professional councelling and aromatherapy massage sessions which made me feel so much better especially when I felt really poorly after chemotherapy. Just being able to make time for you and feel pampered really helped me come to terms with everything that had happened.
“And CancerCare helped my husband too; he had hypnotherapy sessions to help him sleep better and cope better with all the worry and stress. The way I look at it is that the NHS took care of the cancer but CancerCare looked after the rest of me and my family. The support they gave us was just as important.”
“That’s why I’m doing the StarWalk because I want to give something back to CancerCare. All their services are free of charge which is amazing. We are so lucky to have CancerCare on our doorsteps – it’s the only service of its kind in the area. I don’t know what we would have done without them. I’m fundraising with a couple of friends this year for the StarWalk and I would like to encourage other people to sign up and do the same. I took part last year and the atmosphere on the night is really magic. Being able to take part as a family is also really special for us.”
The StarWalk has raised over half a million pounds to date all of which helps support CancerCare’s vital work in helping adults and children affected by cancer in North Lancashire and South Lakeland communities.
HOW TO REGISTER FOR STARWALK 2014
Register before 31st January 2014 and take advantage of our early bird pricing at just £12 per adult and £10 for under 16s. Once registered, participants will receive a fundraising pack containing loads of tips and ideas on how to raise sponsorship for CancerCare as well as information about the night itself. Everyone who takes part will also receive a goody bag, bacon butty, and a special edition StarWalk T-shirt!
So whether you choose to walk or run in support of someone you know who has experienced cancer, in memory of a loved one, or just because you want to take on a personal challenge and support CancerCare's work in our community, the StarWalk will be an experience you will never forget!
To register for the CancerCare StarWalk 2014 visit www.starwalk.org. You can also read what previous participants had to say about last year’s event and watch a short video filmed on the night.
For more information about CancerCare’s services please call 01524 381 820 or email tct@cancercare.org.uk. Follow CancerCare on Twitter @CancerCareLocal or on FaceBook at ‘CancerCareCharity’
This article posted by David Morgan thebestof Lancaster. For information about the Lancaster and Morecambe area visit wwwlancaster@thebestof.co.uk/lancaster or contact David by telephone on 07877 346450, by email Lancaster@thebestof.co.uk
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