1000 miles to fight pancreatic cancer
Jennie Perry and her ‘fundraising team’ of 14 are on a mission to walk and cycle 1000 miles to raise vital funds in memory of her beloved father – Mick Perry. They start their challenge on the 2nd April in the Isle of Wight moving onto Witton Weavers way in Blackburn, completing Coast to Coast and finishing in Windermere Way on the 1st August which takes them to their total distance.
Mick was an active, healthy man but started to experience stomach pai
ns which was misdiagnosed with indigestion. He was eventually diagnosed with pancreatic just six months before he sadly passed away in April 2011 from the disease.
Jennifer says “Mick was part of 10 siblings growing up in Blackburn who he loved and would regularly see them to wind them up and laugh together. Then he had a family of his own, of 5 children, to pass on his idiosyncrasies including a loathing of noisy eating and a love of cemeteries.”
“He was passionate about nature and would spend hours in the garden growing his plants and flowers; spring was his favourite time of the year. His family meant the world to him & he would be honoured to take them on walks to his favourite places. He loved the Lake District so much that he wanted a few last walks up there when he was ill. He had conquered Skiddaw and a lovely walk around Derwent water in his last few months.”
“He didn’t want this disease to beat him. Although he liked to be silly and have a laugh, he also had ‘pure moods’. He loved his beer in a wine glass, baked beans from a tin and tomato ketchup with every meal. He had such a presence, which is now greatly missed and his passing has left a hole in our lives. It’s hard to capture someone’s life and character in a few words.”
“As a tribute to him & to his strength, we are going to tackle 1000 miles in 2017. We will cycle the coast to coast and ramble our way up and down his favourite fells, challenging ourselves with the very things he used to live for.”
“It’s the essence of my father that will keep us going through this fundraising challenge. Every stride and every pedal will be in his honour and for a very special cause. Raising awareness for pancreatic cancer is paramount for early diagnosis and treatment and if an early diagnosis was given to my father then he may still be here.”
Pancreatic Cancer Action is committed to working towards earlier diagnosis of the disease so that surgery, currently the only cure, is made available to the sufferer. The charity fund research into early diagnosis, provide medical education programmes, and launch awareness campaigns.
Ali Stunt, Founder of Pancreatic Cancer Action, said: “We are delighted that Jennie and her team are giving her time to take on this challenge and support Pancreatic Cancer Action. Mick’s symptoms and misdiagnosis were very similar to most with pancreatic cancer and this is a great way to turn this sad story into something positive.
”We rely solely on donations from the public and thanks to people like Jennie we can continue our vital work. Please back her in her fundraising efforts so that we can continue research into early diagnosis and raise awareness of pancreatic cancer.”
To sponsor Jennie and read more about her story please visit her Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jennifer-Perry2