Woman to walk 5,000 miles fulfilling wife's dream after she lost life to cancer

A woman from Bearsden is set to walk around the coast of Britain in memory of her wife who passed away from cancer.

Tracey Howe and Angela White met each other whilst working in a hospital in Sunderland. The pair spent 37 years of their lives together, having been married for nine of those years.

The couple moved to Bearsden nearly two decades ago where they continued to raise their sons Will, 26, and Dan, 23.

When Angela retired at 55, her family realised her personality was changing. Medical teams eventually identified a tennis ball-sized benign brain tumour, which caused the shift in her temperament.

Following a number of major operations the growth was removed and Angela began her road to recovery. Weeks later, the former psychotherapy nurse of over 30 years began to complain of back pain.

As her discomfort worsened Angela was again taken to A&E.

Doctors ultimately diagnosed her with an aggressive form of Myeloma, a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow and plasma cells, and Amyloidosis, a rare condition linked with blood cancer.

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Angela’s wife Tracey told STV News: “She started to act really strangely, we weren’t sure what was going on.

“We initially thought she was finding the transition into retirement hard or she was depressed. Then her behaviour and ability to do things completely changed and we thought she might have early onset dementia.

“Angela then had a seizure and it turned out she had benign brain tumour the size of a tennis ball, which explained the personality changes.

“She underwent several operations and her personality came back which was amazing. Angela then developed this excruciating back pain which meant we had to go to A&E again.

“That’s when they diagnosed her with this blood cancer. They turned out to be the most aggressive form of blood cancer the Beatson had seen.”

Angela passed away aged 58 in September 2023, six months after being diagnosed with cancer. The loss has left a gaping hole in the lives of her family and friends.

“It was horrific”, Tracey explained.

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“It was unbelievable that she had undergone all these surgeries and come out the other side. Angela was just turning the corner, getting back on her feet.

“Then to have that all snatched away was devastating. It was difficult because I knew her passing away was inevitable and I didn’t want it to happen.

“But I also wanted her to be at peace and for her suffering to end. I didn’t want to lose her. She was the warmest person.

“Angela was so selfless. We always said she was like an angel.

“That’s why she did the job she did because she wanted to help people. She was a kind-hearted person who would do anything for anyone.

“I can’t thank the NHS staff and district nurses who provided wonderful end of life care enough for their support”

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After retirement, the couple planned to complete a roundtrip of the British coast in a motorhome. Now, Tracey plans to complete the 5,000 mile journey alongside her dog Poppy in memory of her beloved wife.

She has been training hard for the challenge, completing a trek through the Sahara desert, climbing a number of Munros and plans to walk along the Great Wall of China for her final training session.

The 60-year-old will set off from the Beatson in Glasgow on November 1 and aims to finish outside the vital ward 365 days later.

Tracey believes walking has helped her cope with grief as well as maintaining a connection with her partner.

The 60-year-old said: “There are a lot of places of significance to us as a couple on the route.

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“It will give me an opportunity to think about those memories. I think about Angela everyday and I talk to her while I’m walking, so this is a pilgrimage in a funny sort of way.

“It’s also a way of turning my grief into a positive. After Christmas last year and everyone went home, I could feel myself sinking into the sofa.

“I never had any enthusiasm to do anything but I had to take the dog for a walk. I made myself go out and I found it quite therapeutic.”

The former professor of rehabilitation sciences has set herself the target of raising £100,000 for five different charities including Brainstrust, Marie Curie and Beatson Cancer Charity.

Tracey, who will turn 61 during the trek, is also raising funds for Breast Cancer Now and Coppafeel after her sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Along the route Tracey is planning to hand out a crocheted heart for each mile covered as a symbol of Angela’s caring nature and to show others who are grieving that they are not alone.

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The charity challenge has already received celebrity backing with The Proclaimers green-lighting the use of I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) as the anthem.

The lyrics have been changed to 5,000 miles and dance class FitSteps, which Tracey attends, is choreographing a routine to show their support.

The 60-year-old said: “The whole song is about doing something for someone you love.

“I’m taking on this challenge in Angela’s memory whilst also trying to raise money.

“This walk will take me a year so I’m hoping to raise a lot of money. If I meet my target it would be amazing.

“The charities we’re raising money for are really close to my heart and supported Angela.”

To follow Tracey’s Trek on social media click here. To donate to Tracey’s Trek click here.

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