What strength of character
A MUM has walked 101km in 18 different festive fancy dress costumes for the charity that helped her son.
Rachel Cartwright’s son Nathan was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in September last year.
The five-year-old is just over one year into a three-year treatment plan that sees him go to hospital every two weeks for chemotherapy.
The family, from Heaton, Newcastle, have been helped throughout the traumatic experience by charity Children’s Cancer North.
Rachel, 29, decided to thank them by walking 101km – equivalent to almost 63 miles – in festive fancy dress throughout December.
The mum-of-two aimed to raise £101 with the challenge – but has raised almost 10 times that, with the current total standing at £1,050.
Rachel has been pounding the pavements of Newcastle in all weathers over a total of 18 days this month, wearing a different Christmas costume every time. On Sunday she finished her challenge at Tynemouth Priory.
“I’ve had everything from Mary to Mrs Claus, a Christmas cracker and the Grinch,” she said.
“On December 12 I strolled down the Quayside Market dressed as a turkey pulling my children along for the ride.
“There’s been torrential downpours. There was a day when there were really strong winds and I was dressed as a candy cane. I nearly lost my costume a few times.
“It’s been tough, especially when the weather’s been bad, but to come home and see the smile on Nathan’s face makes it all worth it.”
Nathan was diagnosed within hours of his parents taking him to hospital in September 2020.
Rachel said: “A couple of hours after that we very nearly lost him.
“He ended up having three blood transfusions. The infusion pump machine didn’t work and it had to be hand-pumped into him
“He had significant bruising down the side of his arm. He still has colour tinting from it and I don’t think that’s ever going to fade.
“The transfusion was pumped into his bone marrow to keep him with us. We then had a couple of nights in intensive care and then we were living on Ward 4 for two weeks while he started chemotherapy.
“Since then we’ve been in and out of hospital every two weeks.”
Nathan’s treatment will last some three years.
Rachel said: “The ward staff are absolutely brilliant. They have arts and crafts, musicians...things to make the time as pleasant as possible.”
■ Rachel’s appeal is at justgiving. com/fundraising/101festivekm.