Travel communications boss Debbie Hindle has received the all-clear from cancer, as her fundraising efforts for a 10km charity event in May pass the £5,000 mark.
The chief executive of travel at Four Communications had an operation in February after undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer since August.
She had dubbed her cancerous lump Kenny, “to make it less threatening” and said the treatment has “properly kicked Kenny out”.
Now she is building up her stamina to walk in the 10k Cancer Research UK Race for Life in Regent’s Park, London, on May 13.
She will be walking the course with three friends, including Lin Limbrey, a colleague from her time at travel PR firm BGB.
“The fundraising has topped £5,000 which is so incredible,” she said.
“I’ve been really buoyed up by the generosity and kindness of everyone. It’s been hugely uplifting.”
More: Travel PR specialist Debbie Hindle to tackle 10km Cancer Research fundraiser
She described feeling “ecstatic” when she was given the all-clear.
“When I left the surgeon’s treatment room, I did a dance in the hospital corridor then skipped to my car,” she said.
“When the surgeon said she had the best possible news, I couldn’t quite believe it.”
She now faces a course of radiotherapy, which could make her weary two weeks after treatment.
“It’s one of the things they do to try to prevent Kenny coming back. They will also give me a drug every six months for the next few years to help prevent it spreading to my bones, or other parts of the body,” she said.
After the radiotherapy, she is looking forward to returning to work, splitting her time between home and the office.
“We’ve got a fully flexible working policy so I can pace myself. My company has been absolutely amazing but I know that’s not always the case,” she said.
“Gail Kenny [of Gail Kenny Executive Recruitment] told me she has been supporting an organisation called Working with Cancer, to help employees and employers go through this with more support. I’d like to help her with this if I can in the future.”
Debbie is continuing to walk every day and managed to keep walking with her dog during chemotherapy.
“I can now walk up a hill without stopping and I’m walking further every day,” she said.
“Radiotherapy apparently causes fatigue like chemo but I’ll pace myself again when I get to that.”
Commenting on her fundraising total passing £5,000, she said: “I keep looking at the fundraising page and everyone’s comments. It’s made me so happy and has meant such a lot.
“I am so grateful to everyone who has contributed. The response has been incredible and it came at just the right time.
“I was in the wilderness period when weekly chemo appointments stop and you’re waiting for your body to recover sufficiently to have the operation.
“It was an unsettling time, but sharing the news about Kenny prompted such lovely comments from people that I was carried through that wilderness period on a wave of love and best wishes.
“I reconnected with people I’d not spoken to for years, as well as great friends in the industry. It has been a hugely uplifting experience.”
Click here to find out how to donate.