‘I’m still alive – and positive!’
To be on 1100 miles by this stage is amazing – to do it having recently had your second shock cancer diagnosis in as many years defies belief. Catherine Nanette Duggan, 52, from Chichester is a model of mile-munching resilience! ‘In February 2023 I saw my GP as it was taking me forever to eat a meal and soon learned I had cancer of the oesophagus. But they said that due to my walking I would have the best chance of recovery. In August I had an eight-hour op, and after three weeks was up to walking to my local shop – best walk ever! I built up from there and finished the year on 2000 miles.
‘At a checkup in March this year I was declared all clear, and I was up to as much as 10 miles a day when in April I started getting headaches, and suddenly couldn’t walk as far. When 1½ miles was the absolute limit I sought urgent medical attention. It was a brain tumour. I had it out last month – and I’m glad to say I’m still alive and positive!
‘All the walking, nature and the #walk1000miles group posts have kept me going and I see it all as just a little blip! Now I’m looking forward to two weeks in Scotland with hubby and dog Jess for two weeks, building up my walking again, and I can tell you I appreciate more each day! I’m on 1100 miles, and while I can only walk a mile a day at the moment I love seeing the places people explore in the Facebook group. It has helped so much when I’m not able to get out. All the great support and inspiration helps me remember however bad times get, they won’t last forever!’