An early years teacher who lost her mum just a month after she was diagnosed with lung cancer is gearing up to take on the Shine Night Walk in her memory. Mum-of-three Kelly Paddock, from King’s Somborne, and her daughter Lacey-May, 12, will help light up the city when they complete the 10k neon glowing, night-time walking event for Cancer Research UK on October 11, in memory of Benita Tanner. Despite experiencing symptoms for several months, Benita was only diagnosed four weeks before she died at Christmas 2016.
Now Kelly wants to prevent heartbreak for more families and hopes to raise vital funds to help power progress in the fight against the disease. (Image: Family collection) READ MORE: 1,000km cycle challenge from France in memory of daughter Zoe Kelly said: “I’ll never get over losing my mum when she was just 51 and I miss her every single day. "Perhaps if she’d been diagnosed at an earlier stage, she may have had a chance of making more memories with us or beating the disease altogether.
" With 53,500 people diagnosed with cancer every year in the South East, and cases on the rise, Kelly hopes people will join the event. Anyone who signs up before September 2 can claim 30 per cent off the entry fee by using the code SNWAUG24. Kelly understands first-hand just how important new discoveries are to unlock better ways to detect and beat cancer.
(Image: CRUK) She added: “My mum was the most beautiful lady inside and out and the strongest woman I’ll ever know. She was the best mum and the best ‘Nana Neat’ to the grandchildren who all adored her. She had a close bond with them all, especially Callum, 15, who is my eldest son, as she delivered him.
“Mum was determined to fight and was willing to receive any treatment available, but after just a few sessions of radiotherapy, we were told that the cancer was in her bones, stomach, kidneys and spine. "Mum chose to spend her final days at home so she could listen to the grandchildren playing. She passed away with my Dad, Stuart, my sister, Mikaela and me by her side.
" The event starts at Guildhall Square at 7:30pm, when participants will take to the city’s streets in a fun and inspirational parade of light. To enter or volunteer, visit shinewalk.org.
