'Fantastic' Heather inspires cancer charity walk
A young mum's inspirational coming to terms with cancer
has helped raise £630 for the NHS unit helping treat her.
Heather Rodgers, 31, from Southport, received a terminal diagnosis of bowel and
liver cancer just after Christmas.
She and husband Ben have 2 children Adia, 3, and Heath, 1, and attend Christ
Church in Lord Street, Southport.
Fellow member of the congregation Pete Cunningham was inspired by Heather's
faith and strength of character to raise money for the Medical Day Unit at
Southport and Formby District General Hospital.
Heather said:- "I don't know how people get through something like this
without faith. Since very soon after I was told it was terminal, I have had a
total feeling of peace. It's in God's hands and the support and prayers for my
recovery from the church has been fantastic."
Before her diagnosis Heather was a music therapist at Derian House, a children's
hospice near Chorley. She has now taken on the role of worship director at
Christ Church and is developing its musical repertoire.
Pete said:- "Heather is a fantastic person and inspired me to do the walk.
I was going to a Christian retreat near Skipton, in north Yorkshire, and decided
to ask church members to sponsor me to walk the 63 miles there rather than
drive."
He set off on Easter Sunday and arrived the following Wednesday, clocking up £10
a mile.
A self confessed couch potato, Pete now has the walking bug and plans to walk
the 70 miles to another church event at Whitchurch in Shropshire, sleeping rough
in a tent to raise money for the homeless.
