A DETERMINED patient at the Rigby Cancer Unit in Stratford is taking on a sponsored walk to raise money as a thank you for his care.
Jim Henderson was diagnosed with colon cancer in February last year, which had spread to other areas of his body. After some complications, he was able to start palliative chemotherapy at the Rigby Unit and has been receiving regular treatment there.
While the year has had its ups and downs, for now, Jim is feeling well enough to take on a sponsored walk for the unit.
Jim, along with wife Laura and daughter Lucy, will walk up Brean Down – a 300ft plus high headland that extends 1.5 miles into the Bristol Channel – in July. The walk will also include over 100 steep steps to reach the top.
Jim said: “The set-up at the Rigby Unit is fantastic, and the level of care that I have received from the staff has been amazing, so I wanted to give something back. I am feeling the best that I have felt since my original diagnosis and the treatment is keeping the cancer under control, so whilst it will hardly qualify me as the next Captain Tom, in my current physical condition this will be a big challenge for me, but one that ultimately, I should be able to achieve. The steps alone will be tough, and there are various steep and uneven parts along the way. All in all, this will be a walk of around 3 miles which will be the furthest I have walked in a long time!”
A spokesperson for the South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, which houses the Rigby Unit Charitable Fund, said: “We are so grateful to Jim, who has already smashed his target of £2,000. Every penny will be put towards equipment and resources that go beyond the NHS standard, to ensure a more comfortable and inviting environment for our patients. Jim’s story is incredibly inspiring, and we wish him all the very best for his walk.”
Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jim-henderson76 to donate to Jim’s cause.
Jim has also been keeping a blog, detailing his journey throughout his diagnosis and treatment. Visit www.facebook.com/jimcancerjourney to find out more.
