Family’s cancer experience leads to Ben, 28, walking length of UK
A SOUTH Derbyshire man whose family has been affected by cancer is walking the length of the UK to raise money for research into the disease.
Ben Chapman’s mum Sue, now 60, was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 50, after visiting her GP with her concerns after finding a lump.
After her diagnosis, Sue Chapman, 60, got a new thirst for life, quit her job and started travelling around the world.
Now, Ben, 28, from Repton, is hoping to raise awareness about what she went through and to raise £10,000 for Prevent Breast Cancer by walking from Lands End to John O’groats.
Sue was Ben said: “My mum had breast cancer, I think it was about 2011 or 2012, so it was quite a while ago now. She was quite lucky that they caught it really early, and obviously the earlier you catch it the less it spreads so she had a bit of surgery and some pills.
“She’ll have the rest of her life with some preventative measure, but luckily she didn’t have to go through chemo or all of that, which is good they found it so early. We’ve had family friends that have had to go through that side of things so a little less fortunate than her.
“I was quite young when it happened so I don’t know a lot about it. I think it was a lump that she had that she wanted to get checked out being on the cautious side really. She got it checked out and they found that’s obviously what it was.”
After receiving her treatment and going through surgery, Ben said his mum’s illness encouraged her and his father to start living their lives to the full. Sue, a school teacher, quit her job in order to go travelling.
Along with Ben’s dad, the pair travelled to New Zealand among other places. Ben said: “Luckily, my mum is really well now. It happened in my first year of university, I think it was, so it sparked my mum and dad into life again. They knew that if they found it later, it might not be the same sort of situation.
“They ended up quitting their jobs and travelling themselves, and it just built them back up and gave them more of a life rather than just working a nine to five really.
“Obviously, it’s always a bit of a shock when someone in your family gets diagnosed with cancer. She would have been about 50, so she was pretty young. I think because it wasn’t as serious as it could have been, and she wasn’t having treatment like chemotherapy that you’d be able to physically notice, it wasn’t too bad for me to deal with.”
Ben, who quit his job in graduate recruitment to undertake his epic trek, has raised more than £8,300 of his total.
His aim is to complete the walk in 60 days.
He said: “Watching my mum and close friends go through treatment for breast cancer was tough and I vowed to do everything I can to prevent anyone else suffering the way they did. I was inspired to take on this challenge after seeing a friend walk the length of the country, and thought it would be a great way to fundraise to help fund research for breast cancer.
“My mum was fortunate to have caught her breast cancer at a really early stage, but I know that many haven’t been as fortunate and I would love to try and help in any way possible.
“Once I knew my plan, I then had to decide who I wanted to fundraise for, and after reading about Prevent Breast Cancer and the work they are doing to prevent people being diagnosed with this terrible disease, it felt like a no brainer.”
You can find out more about Ben’s fundraising efforts and make a donation by visiting www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ bensbigwalk.