A medical secretary who is in remission from cancer and is caring for two family members with the disease is taking part in the Colchester Race for Life to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
Medical secretary Katherine Gower, who works for Gosfield Ward at The Lakes in Colchester, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2019.
She underwent three rounds of chemotherapy, then an intense week of chemotherapy before having a stem cell transplant.
Katherine is currently in remission but also has Adult Onset Stills Disease, which may have been triggered by the transplant and affects her joints.
Katherine, who has worked for the Trust for about 20 years, said: “This will be my first event since my cancer diagnosis in 2019, before which I regularly took part in fundraising activities.
“I have done Race for Life three times before. I have also completed the Pier to Pier Walk for St Helena Hospice, completing seven miles on two occasions and 14 miles on another.
“I have decided to walk the route for this year’s Race for Life to avoid any injuries. I will gradually build up my strength so I can jog it next year.
“Cancer Research UK is incredibly close to my heart because I now provide physical and emotional support to my mum and grandmother, who both have cancer.
“This makes me more determined to raise as much money as I can for this amazing charity.”
Katherine’s grandmother was diagnosed with kidney cancer last year and her mum, who is her nan’s carer, was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma in February this year.
Katherine is helping to care for them when she is not at work and is grateful to her team at Gosfield ward for their support.
She will be taking part in the Colchester Race for Life on Sunday 9 July with members of her local Slimming World Group.
Anyone wishing to sponsor Katherine can visit her fundraising page at https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/katherines-race-for-life-7464
