Walking in memory of Marty

Photo © Bowel Cancer UK 2018

On 15 September 2018, me, Ant and my mum, dad and sister all took part in the Bowel Cancer UK Walk Together event in London. 

Team Hobbs / Matthews all felt a little apprehensive when we pledged that we would try and raise £60 each in sponsorship for the charity. None of us felt we would be able to achieve this, however, thanks to some very supportive close friends and family we reached our target! Between us we raised £435 to help Bowel Cancer UK continue their vital work to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. The current fundraising total for the London walk is an absolutely incredible £36,611. Across all the Walk Together events has already raised almost £46,000. I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has donated money to the charity, as seeing the positive outcomes they are achieving and working towards gives me great comfort that their work is helping others with this disease.  

All fundraising will help the charity continue to support patients with the disease, campaign to provide expert information and support to patients and their families, enable and support research into the disease, educate the public and professionals about the disease (which was so important to Marty) and to campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care across the UK. 

As you'll be able to see from the photos below, it was a beautiful day and the walk along the Thames was full of amazing sights and culture, where we got to meet and talk to some very inspiring and courageous people - just like Marty. Some people even recognised his photo that I had on my t-shirt through the various campaigning I have supported through the charity. 

I crossed the finish line with my mum, Ant and the CEO of Bowel Cancer UK - Deborah Alsina (Dad and Rachel got their before us!) and we were greeted by staff and volunteers from the charity, some of which I have never met but who have helped me to channel the pain and trauma of what me and Marty went through by raising awareness to others. At the end of the walk, it was incredibly humbling for me to be introduced to Deborah James; who I have been following on Instagram (known to many as BowelBabe), who I'm very fond of and deeply admire has stage 4 bowel cancer. Deborah has a story similar to Marty's and she's given me great strength and courage to continue with the work I've been doing and overcome some of the personal difficulties I've faced. You can find out more about Deborah's story here.

Good luck to everyone taking part in the final walk that's taking place in Belfast this Saturday 29 September.