Cancer heroine's charity walk

A pensioner who battled back from the brink of death after cancer surgery and a heart attack is preparing for a charity challenge in north Norfolk.Heleneia Brierley, 68, who was given five months to live when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer seven years ago, will begin her adventure by canoeing across Hickling Broad from the Pleasure Boat Inn, Hickling, to Potter Heigham on September 8.

A pensioner who battled back from the brink of death after cancer surgery and a heart attack is preparing for a charity challenge in north Norfolk.

Heleneia Brierley, 68, who was given five months to live when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer seven years ago, will begin her adventure by canoeing across Hickling Broad from the Pleasure Boat Inn, Hickling, to Potter Heigham on September 8.

Then on September 24 she will begin a 65-mile trek along the Weavers Way from Cromer to Yarmouth, arriving at the coast on October 18 in time for a Mayoral reception at the Town Hall.

Ms Brierley, of Burnham on Crouch, in Essex, will be encouraged along the way by her partner Peter Pollard, who has helped her organise previous challenges, including a 9,000ft climb to the top of Mount Olympus in Greece two years ago.

She will be raising money for the Nancy Oldfield Trust which provides water-based activities on the Broads for people with disabilities, Mid Essex Hospital, and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, which revived her after her heart attack.

Ms Brierley, who has undergone four operations including an irreversible colostomy, said: “We conceived an idea that I could use my body and pitch it against nature. I felt an overwhelming desire to repay those who had given me back my life against all the odds, and to bring hope to people I had met along this journey of recovery.”

To sponsor Ms Brierley, ring 01883 622502.