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Joining hundreds of walkers to raise funds for a charity supporting young people affected by cancer is Sarah Doherty – following the sudden death of her teenage niece. 

Sarah, a medical secretary at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, will be taking part in the 24-mile walk in memory of Abi Quinlisk, who passed away at the hospital last September aged just 18 from acute myeloid leukaemia.

Now Sarah, along with her colleague and friend, accounts assistant Michael Christoforou, has signed up for next month’s Young Lives vs Cancer walk across 21 bridges around London.  

Other family and friends will be supporting the event, as part of an overall long-running fundraising programme for the charity – this year under the title ‘Abi’s Tour’, a cycle ride from England to Ireland arranged by Luke Claxton founder of The Veronica Claxton Memorial Fund and Abi’s uncle Paul Jenner is one of the cyclists every year. Every year they embark on a long distance cycle across different countries all for this amazing charity.

Sarah from Great Stukeley- said: “We lost Abi very suddenly at Hinchingbrooke in September 2024 from acute myeloid leukaemia. It was totally out of the blue - we didn’t know she had this illness until a few hours before she passed away. 

“We are walking in Abi’s memory and have chosen to support Young Lives vs Cancer – a charity supported by Paul through their annual charity bike ride with a group of cyclists. Abi was always so proud of him. Young Lives vs Cancer has also reached out to us as a family and been supportive.”

Although a keen walker, Sarah says this is the furthest she has walked – but tries to get a little training in with her family, friends including Michael at the weekends.

She said: “We are in training most weekends, taking it steady and building up the miles. As well as walking locally, we were recently in Krakow and walked the Salt Mines and Auschwitz – it was a real trek with lots of stairs!”  

Thinking ahead to the event itself on May 24, she added: “The day will be full of love as there will be so many friends and family joining us - it will be incredible to see the turn out all walking in Abi’s memory. 

“Undoubtedly, we will get tired, but we are a close knit group and we will all keep each other going and in good spirits and complete this for Abi. I think she would be so proud of us.”

If you would like to show your support, please visit www.justgiving.com/page/abistour

 

Pic cap:

Walking 24 miles in memory of Abi Quinslik – left to right, Michael Christoforou, Emma Jenner (Abi’s Aunt), Clair Dorans, (Abi’s mum), Jim Quinlisk (Abi’s dad), Paul Jenner (Abi’s uncle), Sarah Doherty and her daughter, Abi’s cousin, Chloe.