"Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations." Our supporters tell us why they signed up to Walk Together

Walk Together is a five-mile sponsored walk that brings people together to show support for those undergoing treatment, to remember loved ones and to help stop people dying from bowel cancer in the future. We spoke to four people who took part last year about why they signed up to the fundraiser.

Pauline Worthington, from Belfast, signed up to the fundraiser to raise awareness of bowel cancer:

I decided to take part in Walk Together last year as I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in November 2019. It dawned on me that this could happen to anyone. The more I read over the past year the more I've found out that Bowel Cancer UK is an amazing charity, leading the way in support and research.

The experience was very personal on the day, we walked in small groups due to the COVID-19 restrictions imposed. Along the route people took notice of the green t-shirts making the charity the point of focus. To top it all off we raised nearly £4,000 for this wonderful charity. I would greatly encourage others diagnosed to get involved, it was great fun.

Kevin Worsfold, from Milton Keynes, joined in with Walk Together in memory of his dad:

I decided to walk 26 miles to remember my dad who sadly died of bowel cancer in 1999, just two months after his diagnosis. I walked from Kew Bridge to Tower Bridge with a friend, following the same route I had walked back in 1969, crossing over Putney and Wandsworth bridges. It was a great day, not too hot and a nice breeze down by the River Thames. I raised a tidy sum of £520.

Sarah Culleen, from Leicester, signed up to the fundraiser to support Bowel Cancer UK:

I took part in Walk Together because it meant such a lot to me to be able to support the charity during a time when I had been thrown into this world of cancer. I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in July 2020, and after my operation – just two days from my diagnosis – I needed to get my head refocused.

My friends and family wanted to help and show their support too. It was really important to me to educate myself and others on how this disease can enter your lives at any moment. During COVID-19 it wasn't as easy to have this unified event, but we really enjoyed it. We walked ten miles, which we did at a leisurely pace, and donned our Walk Together t-shirts. I had a lovely time and raised £6,852 from 313 donors – I was chuffed.

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. I have seen my life in a totally different perspective and that old cliché of life being too short is sadly so very true. Don't let cancer define you as a person but let it strengthen you and change what you don't like.

Seraphine Uwimana, from London, took part in Walk Together in memory of her husband:

I walked for my husband, my other half, my friend Antoine who died from bowel cancer two years ago. We also walked for others with the disease and together we'll stop people dying from it.

Walk Together this June

We're asking you to join us and walk five miles in your own time, at your own pace, in your local area, with your household or within small socially distanced groups on Saturday 12 June. By walking on this date we will be together, across the country, completing our five miles on the same day.

However, if you can't make this date, we'd love you to walk anytime throughout June to suit you.