Demanding wall walk challenge triggered by family condition

5:54pm Tuesday 13th March 2012 in News By Adam Binnie

A Croxley Green woman is taking steps to beat a hereditary pancreatic condition by walking the length of Hadrian’s Wall.

Helen Hedge, from Links way, is taking on the 84-mile challenge in aid of the University of Liverpool Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.

her family is affected by a hereditary condition which causes inflammation of the pancreas, putting them at risk of pancreatic cancer, one of the hardest to treat.

Miss Hedge, who works at Northwood HQ, said: “We found out in 1964 when my cousin had abdominal pain which couldn’t be identified.

“It’s very, very rare but affects 26 people in my family and increases the chance of getting cancer to one in three.

“It’s in my file, it’s a real thing. with pancreatic cancer, when you start showing symptoms, it’s often too late.

“My aunt had her pancreas taken out and now suffers from diabetes.”

to raise money for research into the condition, Ms Hedge will take on the 84-mile National Trail along Hadrian’s Wall on May 7.

She has been training on the treadmills in Pump Gyms, Caxton way every other day, culminating in a ten to 15-mile walk on weekends.

on April 11, she will undertake a 24-hour walk on a treadmill.

Miss Hedge said: “It’s nothing compared to what I’ll have to do in May.

“It’s going to be mentally as well as physically draining and the only thing that will get me through is the thought of my family. It’s very difficult to train when you work shifts because you have to spend a lot of time on your feet.

“My employer, Carillion, organised the walk for Great Ormond Street Hospital but I asked if we could raise some money for Pancreatic Cancer UK, to fund research into hereditary pancreatitis.

“I’m taking a holiday straight afterwards because there’s no way I’ll be able to drive.”

She will be walking with colleagues Paul Brown, Jon Whetlor, Craig Mitchell, Lee Carpenter, Gary Brown, Gareth Parker, Simon Curtis.

to make a contribution, go to justgiving.com/helen-hedge-pancreatitis.

more News stories