Abigail takes to the road to honour her sister’s memory (From Wharfedale Observer)

Abigail takes to the road to honour her sister’s memory

10:10am Thursday 21st May 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)

It started with a bleak winter’s run through relentless hail and rain in the village of Pool-in-Wharfedale.

Despite the bitter cold, mum of two Abigail Kent battled on with her mission – to run her first few miles as part of a new exercise regime which would help her raise money for charity. The elements were against her.

“It’s not easy to grieve when you have a young family and I miss my sister so much. But running has helped. I’m not a natural and it doesn’t come easily to me but everyone around me is very supportive.”

Abigail Kent

She was freezing, exhausted and alone in her journey. But despite her pain, nothing could have persuaded Abigail to give up.

And it is this kind of mindset that has seen this determined young woman battle through her grief in a bid to honour the memory of her sister Gemma Rooley.

Abigail, 30, lost Gemma, 28, to cancer earlier this year. The pair were close, having shared childhood dreams and memories which they carried through into their adult lives, living just miles apart in Otley and Ben Rhydding.

But sadly the time they spent together, swapping tales of motherhood and sisterly support, was ripped apart with Gemma’s untimely passing.

Gemma also left behind her husband, Matthew Rooley, and two daughters Neve, six, and Erin, four, on February 28 this year. The popular assistant manager of Thorntons in Ilkley was diagnosed at Airedale General Hospital, just four months before, after rapidly losing weight as a result of what she believed at the time to be a successful diet.

She amazed everyone who knew her by sailing through a course of chemotherapy with little in the way of side-effects and had firmly believed she would recover. The chemotherapy was working and significantly reduced a tumour in Gemma’s stomach, breast and lymph nodes.

But, unfortunately, by Christmas a cluster of tumours were found in her brain. Friends and family stood by helplessly as Gemma’s health rapidly deteriorated, leaving her precious young children without a mum.

Now Abigail has thrown herself into a weekly running routine in a determined bid to keep her sister’s memory alive and sow the seeds of hope for children like Neve and Erin whose lives are shattered by the loss of a parent or loved one.

Abigail said: “Through everything that happened to Gemma, she fought for other cancer sufferers and now I have to carry on the work she began.

“While she was ill the family were put in contact with Winston’s Wish – a charity set up specifically to help bereaved children and it has been such a wonderful support to Matthew and the girls that I want to do everything I can to support it.

“It is very difficult to know how the children are because they don’t express themselves in an adult way, but to lose a mother is one of the cruellest things that could happen to a girl.

“Now I want all the support I can get to help this wonderful charity which has been a lifeline for my little nieces and their father.”

It is only a couple of months since Abigail said goodbye to the sister she admired and cherished. During her illness, Gemma and her family lived every minute of life to the full, determined not to waste a single second of the time she had left.

And it is perhaps that outlook which has set Abigail on her quest to raise money for her sister’s memory. She said: “There are so many young people, mums, dads, children, sisters and brothers who are touched by cancer in some way or another.

“It wasn’t until Gemma was diagnosed that suddenly we became aware of other families living locally who were in a similar situation. That’s why Winston’s Wish is so important. It can be so difficult for those left behind, coping with their own grief and bringing up children who have a burden all of their own.”

Gemma spent her last Christmas with the family at Abigail’s house in Otley which she shares with her husband, Tim, 39, and daughters, Ella-mae, nine, and Mollie, five.

But on Christmas Day night, she suffered a fit and was rushed into hospital. Doctors found she had 15 brain tumours. She was given radiotherapy but was sick, tired and suffered severe headaches and hallucinations.

Despite her ill-health, she enjoyed one last family holiday with her girls in Disneyland Paris in the New Year before she died.

Since then, Abigail has found solace in her running regime, which will see her take part in a number of marathons and charity events.

She said: “It’s not easy to grieve when you have a young family and I miss my sister so much. But running has helped. I’m not a natural and it doesn’t come easily to me but everyone around me is very supportive.”

Abigail took part in the Race for Life on Sunday alongside her daughters, nieces, mum, mother-in-law and running partner Karen Butler.

She is now working towards the Jane Tomlinson 10k, due to take place on June 21 and is in the process of applying for a place in the Reading Half Marathon.

She is also hoping to take part in the London Marathon next year. Every run she completes will raise money for cancer charities including Marie Curie, whose nurses were a great help to the family in Gemma’s time of need, and Winston’s Wish.

Abigail said: “I need people to help me. The work that is carried out by these organisations is vital for families like ours and I hope that by sharing Gemma’s story I can inspire people to help.

“Everyone who helped Gemma during her last few months was absolutely brilliant – the staff at Airedale, St James’ Hospital in Leeds and latterly Bradford Infirmary – without the care they provided we may not even have had her for so long.”

Abigail, who works part-time at Beau Monde in Ilkley, has already received £100 in sponsorship from her boss, Maria Carerra, and £600 from family and friends.

She is now in the process of organising a charity ball to be held in Harrogate next year to mark her sister's memory. All this in just a few short months since Gemma’s passing.

Having heard Abigail’s story, one thing is becomes abundantly clear – the elements are still against her as she grapples with the bitter, relentless storm of grief which surrounds her every day. But she just keeps on running.

If you would like to pledge a donation or help with the organisation of the ball, telephone Abigail on 0754 587 0833.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)