All roads lead to
by Miranda Holman
|
CANCER sufferer Eve Durose has vowed
to beat her disease to fulfil a dream and cycle to Rome.
Grandmother Eve, 62, who cycles around
4,000 miles every year, never drinks or smokes and eats mostly organic fruit
and vegetables, says she was `gobsmacked' when she
was told she had bowel cancer.
But within a few days of receiving
the news she says she became determined to fight the disease and get through 30
gruelling weeks of chemotherapy to get clear of cancer.
Now her friends in the Crossways
Village Handbell Ringers are getting behind her to
organise a mass concert to raise cash for CancerCare
Dorset, which has provided advice and help for Eve at her Owermoigne home.
Eve is also planning to cycle along
the pilgrim trail from
Eve said: "When I was diagnosed
with cancer I was knocked out - nothing in this world can prepare you for that
news.
"I was frightened, then I was
angry, then I knew I just had to get on with it and be strong. I'm too young to
be going out of this world."
Eve spent Christmas in hospital after
having to have her gall bladder removed, and a few weeks later she was rushed
back in with suspected appendicitis. Her appendix was removed, but she was
still in terrible pain and further exploration revealed she had advanced bowel
cancer and secondary cancer of the lymph glands.
But she has been given a 70 per cent
chance of survival after the programme of chemotherapy.
The handbell
group is appealing for anyone who feels they can help with the concert, which
will be staged at St Mary's Church in
Fellow handbell
ringer Andrew Brewer said: "We just admire Eve so much for what she is
doing. "The little that we can do to support her,
we will.
"We have a programme planned of
triumphal pieces - the louder and more hopeful and joyous the better, such as
Parry's I Was Glad.
"Eve has called the concert
Knocking Seven Bells Out of Cancer, and that is how she is approaching it. She
is a very brave lady."
Singers, handbell
ringers, cake bakers and anyone else who would like to help should contact
Andrew on 01305 853125.