Amy goes to great lengths in memory of her brave mum
A WOMAN from Aldershot will take part in a swimming challenge next month to support two cancer charities after the death of her mum.
Amy Woodford, 23, will be swimming 100 lengths (2.5km) at Aldershot Pools and Fitness Centre on May 8 as part of Swimathon, in memory of her mum who died from cancer aged 55.
Amy, a family engagement worker who helps prisoners maintain family ties, is urging other people across Hampshire to sign up for Swimathon 2022 to raise money for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.
She said: “I believe it is so vital to raise money for research, to help prevent other families going through the same traumatic experience we did. Cancer research is so vital. I can only hope it can find a cure and no one else has to suffer like she did.”
Sue Woodford, who lived in Aldershot and worked in reception at Hale School, Farnham, lost a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer when Amy was just 19.
Amy said because her mum’s cancer was diagnosed early she was able to undergo Whipple surgery, whereby her duodenum and gallbladder were removed, as well as parts of her pancreas, bile duct and stomach. The surgery can by risky, but can also be life-saving. Following the operation and six months of chemotherapy, Sue received the allclear in July 2016.
By Christmas that year, she began to get pains in her stomach and back and in January 2017 was told the cancer had returned and had spread to her liver and some lymph nodes.
Sue faced several more periods of chemotherapy but a scan in July 2017 confirmed the treatment had not stopped the cancer.
Amy’s mum died while receiving palliative care in a local hospice.
Amy added: “The staff were beyond amazing to both my mum and our family, and all charities providing this kind of support deserve so much praise and funding.”
Jayne Waterhouse, head of fundraising for England at Marie Curie, said: “We are proud to be partnering with Swimathon once again this year. This much-loved family event brings communities together to raise money to help people at the end of their lives and their loved ones. No matter what your ability is, or the distance that you do, we are grateful for everyone that is taking part and for every penny raised. The money will go towards helping Marie Curie to provide vital care and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement to people across the UK.”
People can participate in Swimathon individually or as part of a team. Any swimmers who cannot make one of the organised sessions can sign up to MySwimathon, which takes place from April 29 to May 15, and choose a time and venue that suits them. Swimathon has raised more than £55million for charity since it began in 1986. This year will also see the Swimathon Foundation donate £2.50 from the entry fee of everybody taking part at an official Swimathon venue to help protect these pools for the future.
Amy will be completing the challenge with her work colleague Nicky Innes, and donations to her fundraising page can be made online.