"Wonderful" tribute to best friend
On 14th October over 18,000 people will be taking to the streets of acrdiff to participate in the 10th annual Cardiff Half Marathon. Amongst them will be Hayley Gilks, an english expat living in France since 2005, dressed as Wonderwoman, raising money for Beating Bowel Cancer in memory of her best friend Lisa Almond who died on 8th February 2012 aged 41 from Bowel Cancer.
Beating Bowel Cancer gave great support to Lisa throughout her illness and Lisa herself raised over £90 in a sponsored parachute jump whilst in remission. In an effort to continue Lisa's personal mission to raise awareness of the signs of bowel cancer Hayley has created a website (www.signsofbowelcancer.com) encouraging people to visit their GP if they are experiencing any of the classic symptoms: 1) Bleeding from the bottom. 2) A persistant change in bowel habits. 3) Abdominal pain. 4) A lump in your tummy. 5) Unexplained tiredness, breathlessness or dizziness. 6) Unexpected or unexplained weight loss.
The website also carries information about the various fundraising schemes that Lisa's friends and bowel cancer "family" have initiated, including a Dragon boat race against England Rugby star Matt Dawson, an annual soho cabaret show and a sponsored walk and "Fun Day" in El Campello Spain, as well as Hayley's personal tribute to her much-missed friend.
Diagnosed at the age of 35, Lisa found support and friendship amongst the users of the Beating Bowel Cancer website and was affectionately known as "Wonderwoman", hence the outfit choice for the Cardiff Half-Marathon. Hayley's sponsorship page is http://www.signsofbowelcancer.com/hayleys-fundraising-page.html with a link to her Virgin Money giving page. For postal donations please contact Hayley directly: hayleygilks@gmail.com