Help Tor Make Memories

Follow us on: https://instagram.com/making_memories_4_tor_y3p_23_?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Firstly, me introduce the Wyrley Walkers! We are Gemma, Jamie, Jo and Sarah - 4 slightly unstable 40-somethings who have decided to walk the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge on June 10th 2023. The gruelling challenge is 24 miles, 3 peaks, 5200ft ascent and completed in less than 12 hours. Why are we doing it.... well, firstly because we are clearly mad and secondly because as we are reaching our "middle" years, we want to continue to test ourselves and quite frankly, it keeps us all out the pub! As we started training for this challenge, someone close to us, Victoria Powers (aka Tor) was bowled over by a challenge of her own - and quite honestly, one that makes ours look like a walk in the park! Tor was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 2017. As a woman in her late 20s, newly married to Andy and with a young son, Jacob, the diagnosis completely changed their life. Tor is an unbelievably strong woman and battled her chemo and surgery with all she had, smashed cancer, began recovery and re-built their life. For 5 years the family have lived with routine scans, check-ups and that cycle of not knowing after each one whether the dreaded disease had returned. For 5 years, each time she was checked, given the all-clear and continued to be the best she could be for all those around her. In January 2023, Tor was due to be given the 5-year all-clear by her breast surgeon. Feeling slightly unwell and not her usual self, she went off to a&e to get checked out. What unfolded from that visit was the worst news anyone would have wanted, especially a young woman in her early 30s with a young family and everything to look forward to. Tor was told that her cancer has returned, a secondary breast cancer which has metastasised to the lungs, liver and bones. The message was clear, this can be treated to reduce the growth and impact but not cured. Since then a whirlwind of further, intensive treatment has started. Each week the cycle of blood tests, chemo, scans, consultant appointments, feeling rubbish and all whilst trying hard to keep being Mom, Wife and all the other roles she holds down. As you can imagine, work is not something she can continue to do and as a young 30-something, Tor now finds herself with an unknown, but significantly reduced life expectancy and no idea if she will be able to return to the job she loves, a nursery nurse at one of Great Wyrley's best childcare providers. Her main aim remains her family, maintaining normality for Jacob, ensuring Andy is as prepared as he can to be the Dad that Jacob needs in the future and making as many memories for her family as possible. As most of us know, the bills and cost of life don't stop when you are ill and unlike some others in this situation, Tor does not have the benefit of years of savings to fall back on - let's face it, how many of us in our early 30's did have! For all the Wylrey Walkers, cancer has affected us in very different ways. We have all had close friends and relatives fight, and some lose that fight, with this horrific disease. We all know Tor and her family very well and have shared many a good time, giggles and tears. For me, Tor holds a special place in my heart as she was Jake's nursery teacher, his swimming teacher, I saw her get married, start her family and have watched her in awe as she has battled through the last few years. We know our challenge pales in significance to the challenge that Tor is facing and the uncertainty around what her future holds. However, we want to reach out to you to offer your support to us, in supporting Tor, to make as many memories for Andy and Jacob as we possibly can. Any amount will contribute to Tor being able to plan fun days out or maybe even a holiday which she can enjoy without worrying about the dreaded bills that sadly, despite illness, we all know still need to be paid. Please support us by donating to the Wyrley Walkers crazy challenge and help Tor make the best memories she possibly can! Edit: 5th May 2023. The response to this has been incredible! It has made us really feel that as well as helping Tor make memories, we could also help her build a foundation for Jacobs future too. We have raised our target and we hope you can raise to our challenge.