Brave mum inspiration for family charity walk
A woman’s cancer battle which turned a family’s world “upside down” has inspired her husband and daughter to step out on a sponsored walk to help boost Cancer Research UK’s work.
Carole Reynolds, of Whittington, was diagnosed with a rare form of the disease in the summer of 2019.
Towards the end of that year, Mrs Reynolds, 56, received six weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, with her treatment finishing on Christmas Eve of that year.
Throughout 2020, she had two-monthly reviews to monitor her cancer and in December it was decided she would need a major operation to remove a cancerous tumour.
That operation was due to take place at the end of April.
Mrs Reynolds’ husband of 30 years, Mark, and their youngest daughter, Grace, 21, who is training to be a teacher, will walk from Worcester to Pershore on Saturday, May 29 with cash generated going to Cancer Research UK.
The couple have another daughter, Chloe, 25, who works with horses.
Mr Reynolds, 57, said:” In the summer of 2019 our world was turned upside down.”
He added: “Carole is my world, my rock and inspiration.
“Although, at times in a great deal of pain during the last 18 months, Carole has tried to carry on as normal without complaint.”
He explained that he and Grace intended to carry out their fundraising walk “on behalf of Carole and all the staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, whose loving care and expertise have kept my wife alive.
“I hope that this walk will raise much-needed funds for any cancer patient in the UK.”
Mrs Reynolds, previously a cook at a day nursery, has had almost 50 appointments since her illness began and has been seen at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and in Coventry as well as Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The Covid pandemic had delayed her operation, now scheduled to be carried out at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield.
Mr Reynolds, a compliance administrator, said: “It was frustrating because obviously operations had been put on hold because of the breathing apparatus that’s needed for Covid.
“The operation will last about four to five hours and then another two hours of plastic surgery on top.”
He explained that his wife did get tearful but did not complain, adding: “She is going through all this and she wants to check that I’m okay and the two girls are okay.
“With the pandemic it’s been difficult for all of us, the last 12 months, but she’s been like this for the last two years.
“I just want to see her well and healthy again and get back to where we can go for walks again, stuff like that.”
Mr Reynolds said the family wanted to “give something back” for the care Mrs Reynolds had been given and so came up with the idea of the walk.
The initial fundraising target of £500 has already been exceeded, with gift aid boosting the total past the £770 mark.
To donate, go to the Cancer Research UK page at: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/marks-giving-page-25327.
Mark and Grace Reynolds all set for their fundraising walk
Carole Reynolds, right, with her daughter, Grace
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