Blister sisters do it again

Sore feet have not deterred this steely bunch, who walked 50 miles for charity.

The self-proclaimed Blister Sisters - NHS work colleagues Kerry Crooks, Tricia Spedding, Carol Ann McElhone, Sue Perry Wright and Kathryn Jones plus Dr Shelagh Garnett, who worked with them at Preston Business Centre until her recent retirement, hiked from Windermere to Rosemere Cancer Centre over two days, raising £3,000.

They took on the fund-raising challenge for Rosemere as they realised they shared the common bond of being close to someone treated at the cancer centre.

Kerry Crooks, screening and immunisation Manager for NHS England North (Lancashire), said: “My dad Richard is a patient, Kathryn Jones’s husband Ian is a former patient as is Dr Shelagh Garnett, who was treated there for breast cancer two years ago.

“Another colleague, Kathryn Lewis, who was there to greet us at the end of the hike, was treated at Rosemere for breast cancer a year ago. We also know other people who have been helped by the centre.

“When we were thinking of what to do, we decided on the walk because Windermere and Rosemere rhyme. We started training with an eight mile hike, gradually building up to a final practice walk of 21.5 miles round the Guild Wheel, which has featured a lot in our training.”

Over the two days, the Blister Sisters were supported by another colleague, Wendy Allen, who met them in her car every five or six miles to offer plasters, snacks and drinks.

Tricia’s husband Neil also drove ahead of them to act as official mile marker.

Kerry added: “It was great to see Neil as you knew you could cross off another mile every time he appeared. We also relied a lot on Wendy to keep us going and would like to thank her and Neil along with everyone who has pledged money through our Just Giving page.

“The weekend’s walk was really hard going and we all have a few aches and pains and of course blisters…however we have all enjoyed walking together and are now planning our next challenge.”

To add to the money already raised by the Blister Sisters, log on to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Blister-Sisters9

Rosemere Cancer Foundation spends the donations it receives on vital equipment, research and training that cannot be funded by the NHS. It strives to bring world class cancer treatments and services to local cancer patients throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria via their local hospitals and the region’s three specialist treatment centres. These specialist centres are the Rosemere Cancer Centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, Blackpool Victoria Hospital for blood cancers and the Royal Blackburn for liver cancers.

The charity also funds those things that can make the cancer journey a little more comfortable such as free access to complementary therapies for all newly diagnosed patients. For further information, visit www.rosemere.org.uk