On the 25th and 26th of October, Megan, Lizzy and Kate will be walking Peddars Way to raise funds for the life-saving cancer treatment drug Avastin (Bevacizumab) which is not currently available on the NHS.

Gary's Story:

Many of you will already follow Gary's story of his treatment, but for those who don't: Gary had a diagnosis of cancer in late 2021. As an active and healthy 34 year old it was an incredible shock to find that he had Stage 4 Bowel Cancer, after being rushed to hospital with sepsis. Doctors then discovered that Gary had a cancerous tumour in his bowel and after major surgery, found that the original cancerous mass in his bowel had spread to his omentum and surrounding lymph nodes.

In December 2021 Gary started an exhausting regime of chemotherapy. Alongside his chemotherapy, and with his wife Lizzy by his side, he has worked incredibly hard to supplement his treatment with dietary and lifestyle changes, to give his body every possible chance of cure. From diagnosis to now Gary has undergone multiple cycles of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and is now being treated with the drug Avastin alongside his usual treatment.

Gary's latest scan, this summer (2025) has shown stability and even reduction in cancerous size and activity. The bi-weekly treatments to UCLH for chemotherapy and the side effects of the chemo itself are hugely rigorous, but Gary is doing incredibly and his Dr has told him to "keep doing what he is doing!"

What your donations will provide:

Avastin, also known by its generic name bevacizumab, is a targeted cancer drug used in combination with other cancer medicines. It works by inhibiting a protein that helps tumors grow blood vessels (angiogenesis). This starves the cancer cells of the nutrients they need to grow and spread.

Unfortunately accessing Avastin privately is currently costing Gary nearly £5K per month. Avastin isn't available on the NHS when used alongside Gary’s type of chemotherapy, despite him having responded to it for 9 months. This is why we are raising money - so he can continue this life-saving treatment.

Our route:

We plan to walk Peddars Way, a 49-mile route (79km) over two days, starting at Holme-next-the-sea on the Norfolk coast and ending in Suffolk at Knettishall Heath Country Park.

None of us girlies are hikers, so there will be some blisters and tears I'm sure, but we're determined to raise money to ensure that Gary's treatment can continue.

Any donations (no matter how small!) are hugely appreciated.

Love from Kate, Lizzy and Megan xxx