LAUNCESTON Town Councillor, Val Bugden-Cawsey, is standing tall in the face of cancer by organising a sponsored walk and cream tea event.
Val, who is well known in the town and beyond, has received the devastating diagnosis that she has a rare form of cancer, malignant melanoma.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment available to cure her, but she is putting all her effort into this fundraiser to help others who may find themselves in the same situation.
Six years ago, Val had a lump removed from her right shoulder, which turned out to be malignant melanoma.
After further surgery at that time, and five years attending Derriford Hospital regularly for checks, she went into remission in June 2017.
Having not felt well for some time, another lump appeared in her left groin in December, which was removed recently.
Following a CT scan and histology results, Val, and her husband Terry, have been coming to terms with the news that she has advanced malignant melanoma which has spread to her gallbladder, lungs and brain.
She said: “Terry and I are still in disbelief, shock, struggling to come to terms with all the information coming at us. There is no cure for this particular cell, it is rare and resistant to chemotherapy. Treatment options are limited with potentially aggressive side effects. The prognosis is very bad.”
However, Val is determined to, in her own words ‘turn the frown upside down’ and try to do something positive to raise funds for research into this particularly aggressive form of cancer while she can.
The event, Val Walks Tall in the Face of Malignant Melanoma will take place on Sunday, July 1.
The first part invites people to gather at Launceston Medical Centre for 2pm (by kind permission of Dr Stoecker) and then begin a three-mile walk from the surgery to Pennygillam, Chapel, St Johns and back to the Town Hall.
Mini-buses will shadow the walk for those who are unable to walk the route. Then at the town hall, a special cream tea event will be held.
A £5 donation is asked for each part of the event — the walk and the cream tea, and any additional donations are also welcomed.
The event is being supported by Launceston Town Council and the St Stephen-by-Launceston branch of the Women’s Institute, two groups that Val has been greatly involved in.
The Town Hall has been given free of charge, and mayor, Margaret Young, her team, and the WI members will be in charge of refreshments.
There will also be a cake stall and raffle.
Val is admirably and heartwarmingly positive and says her aim is to ‘inspire and motivate’.
She told the Post: “I can’t beat this and they can’t help me because it’s too advanced. I think it’s best to be out there. I was to turn that frown upside down and do something positive. The research that they are doing at Derriford Hospital will benefit local people, and that’s important to me.”
Val was offered Pembrolizumab, a trial drug but she made the decision to decline the treatment as it offers no cure and only a 20% chance of a longer time, but with chronic side effects.
Instead, she wants to use the time she has to raise the profile of this form of cancer and money for further research.
She also felt the cost of the treatment would be better used for someone with a positive prognosis. “I can raise far more than I would like spent,” she added.
“I’m very, very keen that I’m not a patient, I’m still the Val that people know and love. I’m trying to raise the profile of this actually quite rare cancer. When you say melanoma, people think it’s a mole on your skin, but melanoma really is quite rare and aggressive.”
Val realised a lot of people had been concerned about her health, and she wanted to let people know the full picture, and hopes that people will carry on treating her the same.
She said: “When you see me, no scooting up another aisle in Tesco when you see me coming. I know it’s hard but staying away for me is harder. When we meet we don’t need to talk about the elephant in the room, a giant hug will do.”
Val is also well-known for her work as campaign manager for the North Cornwall Conservative Association, and also stood in the 2017 Cornwall?Council election as a Conservative candidate for the Launceston North and North Petherwin Ward, losing out to Adam Paynter.
Her diagnosis has meant she has had to stand down from the post.
Tim Smith, chairman of the North Cornwall Conservative Association said: “I am extremely grateful to Val for all she has done for North Cornwall Conservatives over the last nine months. She has been a dynamic and enthusiastic campaign manager and has achieved a great deal in a short space of time.
“We shall all miss her and shall work hard to build on what she has started. I know you will all join with me in sending her, her husband and family every best wish.”
North Cornwall Conservative MP Scott Mann urged as many people as possible to support Val, adding: “In recent weeks one of my members of staff and good friend Val Bugden-Cawsey was diagnosed with terminal cancer, namely malignant melanoma.
“In the face of adversity and such awful news, she has vowed to increase awareness of this cancer and raise funds for a research programme at Derriford Hospital which specialises in rare and aggressive cancers.
“On Sunday, July 1, Val will be hosting a family walk around Launceston followed by a cream tea, with each £5 donation going to this fantastic cause. The walk will begin at 2pm at Launceston Medical Centre.
“Val is a truly inspiring woman and I hope lots of you can make it on July 1 to raise money for this important cause.”
Val is looking forward to the fun walk and cream tea event, and hopes that everyone — young, old and their pets, will join her and support the event.
Anyone interested in hosting their own coffee morning or event on the back of Val Walks Tall in the Face of Malignant Melanoma, would be more than welcome.
Donations can also be sent to G F Gubbin Funeral Directors, Penlaurel, Langdon, Launceston, PL15 8NL.
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