Wigan cancer survivor aims for £10,000 target as she continues supporting charity during pandemic

Lesley Watmough had planned to take part in the Race for Life at Haigh Woodland Park again this year, but it was cancelled due to the outbreak.

But now she has signed up for Race for Life at Home and aims to take her fund-raising total for Cancer Research UK to £10,000.

She said: “I’m delighted to take part in Race for Life at Home as I fund-raise every single year at Haigh Hall. I usually set myself a target of £1,000, but as we are in such unprecedented times I am aiming to raise £500 over the summer. Without research carried out by Cancer Research UK and the amazing work of the NHS, I wouldn’t be here today.

“I particularly want to raise awareness of those who may be facing a cancer diagnosis at the end of lockdown. I have a friend who is a doctor who is worried that people aren’t going to see her with symptoms and I have a friend who is a chemo nurse who is anxious that the wards are so quiet because cancer patients are choosing to stay at home. I worry what will happen to all those people at the end of lockdown.”

Lesley, who lives in Marylebone, took part in her first Race for Life at Haigh Woodland Park in 2011.

But at the beginning of 2012, she found a lump in her right breast and her GP referred her for tests, including a scan and biopsy.

The 54-year-old faced a breast cancer diagnosis and had a mastectomy just weeks later. She then had an agonising wait to see if the cancer had spread.

Lesley was overjoyed to be told the cancer had not spread, but as a precaution she was given eight sessions of chemotherapy and 21 days of radiotherapy.

During chemo, Lesley remained active, went swimming and did yoga, as well as continuing to work as a chartered surveyor. She also took part in Race for Life at Haigh while she had no hair and found it a positive experience.

Lesley, who lives with partner Paul and has a stepdaughter Imogen, is ranked one of the highest individual fund-raisers for Race for Life in Wigan, having collected more than £9,500.

She will be walking the 5km Race for Life course at Haigh Woodland Park on Saturday July 11 and hopes as many people as possible will sponsor her at fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/lesleys-race-for-life-at-home-12.

People can visit raceforlife.org and sign up for free for ideas on creating their own home challenges.

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