Andrew’s Himalayan Trek in memory of his wife

Andrew Yeats and a group of his family and friends recently fundraised for us by completing a Himalayan Trek in memory of his wife Cinders, who died of bowel cancer.

My wife Cinders died of bowel cancer in September 2022. Cinders, who was also known as Lucy, always wanted her story to be told, so, in December 2023 and January 2024, I completed a Himalayan trek with family and friends to celebrate her life, and raise awareness of bowel cancer.

When Cinders was diagnosed with stage 2 bowel cancer in 2017, at the age of 53, we had reason to believe there was hope. But we later discovered this diagnosis was incorrect. The cancer was already well advanced, and by the time we had a correct diagnosis two years later, she had developed secondary tumours in her right lung.

Cinders was a wonderful person; loving, kind, thoughtful and scatty. She had huge determination, and a sense of fairness and support for the underdog. In fact, she was so busy helping others she often neglected to attend to her own needs. By the time she was correctly diagnosed in 2019 at stage 4, it was too late.

To begin with, she didn’t pick up on the signs that something was wrong and needed urgent investigation. She experienced extreme tiredness, blood in her poo and weight loss. Doctors assumed her symptoms to be something to do with the normal ageing process or menopause rather than bowel cancer. But had we been more aware of the symptoms, or had that information been more in the public realm, we may have picked up on it earlier and taken action that could’ve saved her life.

Mountains were Cinders’ spiritual home and she worked with me as a Himalayan trekking guide. We’d always planned to do a Nepal trekking trip with our family when they were old enough but unfortunately, our trip was ‘about’ Cinders, rather than with her.

Starting in December 2023, over 23 days we successfully climbed over 60,000 feet, with temperatures as low as minus 14 degrees Celsius. I was the only one with any previous Himalayan trekking experience, so it was a huge undertaking and challenge for most of the team. Cinders would've been horrified to know we had taken international flights, so we did carbon offsetting of the effects of the trip. To avoid internal flights, we retraced the footsteps of Hillary and Tensing in 1953 through the foothills, which was a long walk into the high mountains, but this aided acclimatisation. 

A local Sherpa woman, Thapi Mayal, came with us too, and we donated Cinders’ rucksack, jacket, and red trekking boots to her. It’s nice to know Cinders’ mountain gear will go to a good home and will continue trekking in Nepal with Thapi for many years, long after we’re home from our trip. 

So far, we've raised over £8,000 for Bowel Cancer UK on our Star of Hope Tribute Page we set up for Cinders. She was with us on the journey, and not only in spirit. Whenever I walk in the mountains now, I have a real sense of her presence, so I’m sure she was with us every step of the way, encouraging us on. 

• Donate to Cinder’s Star of Hope Tribute Fund 
• Learn about the symptoms of bowel cancer
• Read more real life stories

Above: Andrew and his team at Cho La Pass.

Above: Cinders and Andrew in Nepal.