To be on 1100 miles in little over six months the year is amazing – to do it having recently had your second shock cancer diagnosis in as many years defies belief. But Catherine Nanette Duggan, 52, from Chichester is the absolute model of mile-munching resilience…
‘In February 2023 I saw my GP as it was taking me forever to eat a meal and soon after learned I had cancer of the oesophagus and the journey would be a long one. But they said that due to my walking I was fit enough for surgery, and the best chance of recovery after the chemo I would need before and after. 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 my walking back up from there and finished the year on over 2000 miles before a checkup in March this year had a checkup where I was declared all clear.
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 1.5 miles was the absolute limit I sought urgent medical attention. It was a brain tumour. But I had it removed last month – and I’m glad to say I’m still alive and positive!
All the walking and nature and the #walk1000miles group posts have kept me going all through this. I just see it as a little blip! Now I’m looking forward to 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 already, and while I can only walk a mile a day at the moment I love seeing the different places that people explore in the Facebook group and it has helped so much when I’m not able to get out. You can get great support and inspiration from all the people in the community and it helps me remember however bad times get, they won’t last forever!’
Thanks for the inspiration Catherine!
