The wife of a popular GP who died from pancreatic cancer is preparing to embark on a charity challenge in Peru to help raise more than £17,000 in his memory.
Benenden Hospital staff nurse Kate Minett, 57, lost her husband Nigel seven years ago, just 10 weeks after he was diagnosed with the disease.
Dr Minett, who lived in Staplehurst, had been working part time at the Orchard Surgery in Langley when he became ill, having retired from Marden Medical Centre after 21 years.
Two years ago, Kate trekked across Arizona for Pancreatic Cancer UK and will now be joining a team of 18 fundraisers to hike across the Inca Trail in Peru this month.
The mother-of-four’s epic journey will begin in the Inca capital of Cusco, the world’s most important archaeological find, and take her through three mountain passes before reaching Machu Picchu.
She said: “The trek is at altitude with three mountain passes, the highest at 4,400 metres, which means it will be harder than my previous trek.
“We will be out of contact for four days which I am looking forward to but will be rather anxious as one of my daughter’s is expecting her first child while I’m away so I’m hoping it will arrive a little early!
“Most of the team are younger than me so I’m hoping I will be up to the challenge. I signed up for it soon after I came back from Arizona where I met an amazing bunch of people, all of whom had suffered the loss of a loved one to pancreatic cancer.”
Kate is funding the trip herself and has so far raised an incredible £17,547 from a number of fundraising events including a dinner and dance at the London Beach Hotel, a garden party and bake sale at Benenden Hospital where she works on Bensan Ward.
She added: “Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose and difficult to treat. It is known as a silent killer as it is usually diagnosed too late to offer sufferers anything but palliative care.
“Survival rates from pancreatic cancer have improved very little since the early 70s, and it has the lowest survival rates at barely 7%.
“Pancreatic Cancer UK is a charity dedicated to supporting those affected by the disease, investing in research and lobbying for greater recognition of the disease.”
Published on 05 March 2019