'One woman and her dog': Cancer survivor and pet pooch embark on charity walking challenge

We all know how much dogs love their walkies, but this furry friend has barely had time to stop over the past few days!
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Jean Hensey-Reynard and her eight-month-old Labradoodle Lottie have been trekking across the borough in a bid to raise cash for Cancer Research UK and Paws For The Cure, a breast cancer awareness organisation.

Jean, who battled cancer in 2017 and is now approaching three years cancer free, wanted to raise money for leading charities.

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She was forced to think outside the box about how to do so due to the current Covid-19 limits.

Jean and LottieJean and Lottie
Jean and Lottie

She landed on the idea of walking every day for 21 consecutive days, in various locations across the borough, starting in Beech Hill.

Jean said: “On the first one, I overdid it a bit, I got to 22,000 steps, from Beech Hill, down the canals, past Scotmans Flash and through Platt Bridge!

“I decided on averaging 10,000 steps a day, so I will have done quite a lot by the end of my 21 day

challenge!”

Lottie takes a well-earned restLottie takes a well-earned rest
Lottie takes a well-earned rest
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Jean was already a keen walker and was not expecting much of a physical challenge, but her fund-raising has still presented some unexpected obstacles.

She said: “I am always out walking, so I am used to it.

“The challenge has been walking a very lively puppy, she is hard work!

“To actually walk with her is not easy, because she is still getting used to her lead, and is always looking for the nearest bit of water to jump in for a swim.”

Jean went on: “I feel that, when I had my diagnosis at the end of 2017, and all my treatment going through 2018, I must have been benefitting from cancer research and money raised by people who had done things like Race For Life, bake-offs etc.

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“Now that I have recovered and I am better, I think it’s my turn to give back to help new research and new drugs that will help people who will sadly get this disease in the

future.”

Jean has been getting in her steps by completing walks around the likes of Ashton Town’s ground, and before finishing her 21 day challenge, she has hopes of squeezing in some laps of the DW Stadium and Haydock racecourse.

Donations can be made to Jean’s fund-raiser by clicking here.