Emma’s westsuit warriors are in the swim for Cancer Research
A STAFFORDSHIRE Moorlands shop owner is going to great lengths to raise money for charity – by taking part in a swimathon.
Emma Priestman, who owns Footprints in Leek; and four of her friends are taking part in a 5k swimming event to raise money for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.
The group are set to take to the water at Colwick Park in Nottingham on Saturday – with Emma and her team of Wetsuit Warriors so far raising more than £1,400.
Emma was inspired to raise the money after husband Adam was diagnosed with NSCLC lung cancer at the age of 48 in April last year.
On her fundraising page she said: “This was very much out of the blue and a great shock to our family. Over Easter he had surgery to remove part of his left lung, followed by 12 weeks of chemotherapy.
“At that point he was told that he was cancer free, but was given the opportunity to take part in an immunotherapy trial. This trial was a double-blinded placebo trial, so we wouldn’t know if he was on the real drug or not.
“It was a no brainer, with all of the extra checks and scans that went with the trial, and the opportunity of hopefully helping Adam and other cancer patients in the future we said yes. The trial was for 12 months.”
In April this year the couple received the devastating news that the cancer had returned.
Emma said: “More surgery followed to remove a wedge of lung. Adam is now being treated with targeted therapy to hopefully treat the tumours that are left and to be cancer free again.
“Without this trial there wouldn’t have been early detection of the tumours – thank goodness for the trial.”
Emma added both Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie were charities close to her heart.
She said: “It is so very important that Cancer Research have the funds to research and test up and coming drugs and treatments, to be able to help people like Adam and all other cancer patients fight their battles with cancer.
“They receive no government funding for their work. This is about our futures and saving lives.
“As for Marie Curie, what a fantastic organisation. We have not as yet had to use their services, they help, support and care for not only the patients but their families too. Around 2,100 Marie Curie Nurses work around the clock in people’s homes all over the UK.
“None of us know what’s around the corner and when we might be asking for support ourselves.”
You can donate to Emma’s Justgiving page by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ wetsuitwarriorsopenswimnottingham2019