Best foot forward for Angela as she raises cash for EMICS
She has had two kidney transplants and beaten breast cancer
A SHEPSHED woman is in training to complete the Leicestershire Round this summer to raise money for EMICS (East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme).
The Leicestershire Round is a 100 mile circular walk across Leicestershire and Angela Blackmore will start the walk at Bradgate Park on July 14 and will complete the walk over 10 consecutive days, finishing back at Bradgate Park on July 23.
A member of Swannington WI, Angela (59) told the Echo that she was doing the walk to celebrate the centenary this year of the Leicestershire & Rutland Federation of Women’s Institutes (LRFWI) and was inspired to raise money for EMICS after listening to a talk by one of the charity’s doctors at a meeting of her WI group.
“I realised how valuable their contribution is to our community and their desperate need for funds. I used to be a Resuscitation Officer and Clinical Skills Instructor at University Hospitals of Leicesterand have worked closely with EMAS and A&E and know the necessity for prompt professional expertise for victims of trauma out in the community. They desperately need more publicity and more funding.”
Angela’s story is remarkable as she is taking on the challenge after having two kidney transplants and survived breast cancer.
“I had my first kidney transplant in 1992 after my kidneys were damaged by preeclampsia with my second pregnancy. I had that kidney until 2005 when I had breast cancer and my transplant failed due to chemotherapy. I then received another kidney transplant in 2007, this one being donated by my sister, Gwenneth.”
And in another twist, when Angela received her diagnosis of breast cancer, her youngest son Stephen was diagnosed with renal failure and he started haemodialysis while Angela started chemo and later received a kidney transplant from his dad, Alan in 2006.
Both Angela’s sisters will be joining her on the walk, with her younger sister Valerie trying to raise awareness of Cystic Fibrosis as her son Andrew suffers from this condition.
Angela said: “There will be lots of input from other WIs along the route with provisions of drinks, cakes and toilets, and WI members joining in some stages of the walk. The final day will see my own WI, Swannington, receiving us back to Bradgate Park with a celebratory picnic and Fizz!”
She said training for the walk has been going well except for an incident on Wednesday.
“During a six mile walk with a friend and her dog I fell over the dog - I now have a lovely black eye and painful left shoulder but I’m sure I’ll be back walking in a few days.”
If you would like to back Angela her just giving page is https://www.justgiving.com/ Angela-Blackmore1