A WOKINGHAM couple are putting themselves through their paces this Christmas for their one-year-old granddaughter who has cancer.
Nick and Jenni McDonagh are walking 540 miles to raise funds for children’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent.
Emily was diagnosed with infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia at five-weeks-old. Following the diagnosis, the family have received ongoing support from a CLIC Sargent social worker.
She spent six months at Southampton General Hospital on intensive chemotherapy.
She has been having daily remission chemotherapy at her home in Wokingham however last week,the family found out that Emily is no longer in remission.
She will now be heading to Great Ormond Street Hospital to continue her journey, starting with immunotherapy followed by a round of chemotherapy and then potentially a bone marrow transplant.
Jenni and Nick decided they wanted to do something to raise funds for CLIC Sargent, who they say have supported their family tirelessly this year.
“The journey we are all going through with Emily is a step by step, day by day journey, and the walk is mirroring this,” says Jenni.
“It’s not easy at all but we remind ourselves it’s for Emily and keep going. One step in front of the other.”
She adds: “We want to raise as much money as possible because cancer really turns families’ lives upside down and we want CLIC Sargent to be there to support everyone who needs it.
“We’d love it if the kind people of Berkshire get behind our challenge and help to raise funds for this amazing charity.”
Last year CLIC Sargent supported 88 Berkshire families and gave out 56 financial grants to the value of £10,270 to help them.
The Cancer Costs report from the charity found that families with a child on active treatment spend an extra £600 a month.
Rose Bailey, CLIC Sargent fundraising engagement manager for Berkshire, says: “I’m in regular touch with Jenni and know how hard the family has had it this year.
“Jenni says the walking is saving her life right now and giving her and Nick something to focus on. We’re so grateful to Nick and Jenni for taking on this epic challenge for CLIC Sargent and hope that what they are doing will inspire others going through challenging times.”
To support Nick and Jenni’s challenge visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/granni-and-grumps
