FATHER OF THREE AIMS TO RAISE 200K FOR CANCER RESEARCH UK IN LOVING MEMORY OF WIFE

3,500 MILE WALK IN A BID TO ERADICATE CERVICAL CANCER – AND SPUR MEN INTO ACTION

Father of three, Laurence Carter, is completing the challenge for his wife, Melitta, who passed away at the age of 53 from cervical cancer. He aims to raise £200,000 for Cancer Research UK in Melitta’s memory. Laurence began his epic walk from his family’s home town of Seaford, East Sussex, on June the 16th and is making his way clockwise around the coast of England and Wales, passing through 29 counties.

Laurence has gone walkabout from his job as a senior director at the World Bank Group to get men talking about cervical cancer and how it can be prevented. Laurence remembers his wife urging him to go to the screening appointments that were available for men, but he never thought to remind Melitta to go for a smear test.

Laurence said:

“My beautiful, wonderful wife, Melitta, mother of our three children, sister, daughter and beloved friend to many, died of cervical cancer in 2015. People were drawn to Melitta; she empathised, expressed opinions, argued, made you laugh. She made everyone feel alive. She touched and enriched the lives of so many people, this is the least I can do for her.  When I turned 50, Melitta started reminding me about health checks that were available for men but at no stage did I remind her to go for cervical screening. It never crossed my mind. Now I think to myself, if I had raised it and she had gone six months earlier, she might be alive.

“So I am walking to raise awareness. Many men might not be familiar with the importance of smear tests, or that there is a safe, highly-effective vaccine which protects against the main types of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which can cause cervical cancer. The women in their lives – daughters, sisters, mothers, girlfriends or wives – might be busy and putting off making an appointment, thinking it can wait. We should be reminding them to go for that appointment as soon as the letter comes, before it’s too late.”

The money Laurence raises will go towards a Cancer Research UK-supported project at the Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London (UCL), led by Dr Jo Waller. Dr Waller is working to better understand why some people do not take part in HPV vaccination or regular cervical screening. Each year, around 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK*. HPV vaccination and cervical screening reduce the risk of cervical cancer, as both can prevent cancer developing in the first place.

Laurence added:

“This research has the potential to increase informed uptake of screening and ultimately reduce the impact of cervical cancer. Put simply, if screening rates go up, fewer women will die from cervical cancer. If I can stop another family going through what we’ve been through, it will all be worth it. I want to see cervical cancer eradicated, I believe this is achievable if we raise awareness and continue to fund the research.”

To follow Laurence’s progress and find out more about the challenge, visit 3500toendit.com

Jo Marriott, Fundraising Manager at Cancer Research UK, said:

“We are absolutely delighted Laurence has taken on such a great challenge to raise vital funds. We can’t thank him enough for his support. Cancer Research UK has made enormous progress in the fight against cancer. However, we have only been able to do this thanks to the dedication and commitment of our volunteers and supporters, without whom we would not be able to fund our research.”

For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, visit cruk.org.