Scarborough Woman Takes On 62-Mile Walk for Cancer Research Following Husband’s Diagnosis

A Scarborough woman has embarked on a significant walking challenge to support her husband and Cancer Research UK after receiving devastating news just six months into their marriage.

Debbie Gibson is currently undertaking a 62-mile walk throughout January to raise funds and awareness following her husband Mark’s diagnosis of vocal cord cancer in December.

The couple, who were married on Armed Forces Day in June at the Royal Hotel, faced the diagnosis on 11th December. For Mark, an ex-RAF veteran, this represents a second primary cancer diagnosis, having previously beaten kidney cancer five years ago in 2020. While he was expected to receive his five-year all-clear this year, he instead faces a new battle with laryngeal cancer.

Reflecting on the emotional impact of the diagnosis and her motivation for the walk, Mrs Gibson explained:

"We got married  on armed forces day in June at the Royal Hotel and we've only been married six months and he's just recently on the 11th of December been diagnosed with vocal cord cancer and I just felt like I'm just completely helpless. I just I couldn't do anything for him. I can't fix him. I can't do anything for him.

As a loved one, it makes you feel really useless and you can't help them. But I thought I'm going to have to do something for the greater good. Do whatever I can.

I found a challenge, Walk 62 miles in January, and I thought thought, 'Wow, this is perfect because I'm not just sitting here worrying.' And it helps cancer research."

The diagnosis has brought some personal challenges for Mark and Debbie regarding the long-term effects of treatment, Debbie says taking on the fundraising challenge is her way of embracing the fight against cancer.

"Even when you recover from cancers, the problem is you tend to lose bits of yourself during the process. My husband lost his kidney the first time and now he's going to lose so much of his vocal cord. And it is quite a big thing knowing you're not really going to hear his voice the way it used to be cuz they did say he's probably not going to have 100% of his voice back.

And I just thought if I can do a little bit, if I can do a tiny little bit just to make me feel like I've contributed in some way and I've helped him and I've helped myself and I've helped the greater good, then I'll I'm going to do it.

I've got past my 62 mile part and I'm going to I'm going to continue walking all month because every time I go out and walk, I'm standing up to cancer."

Mark Gibson, who is preparing for an operation next Friday, expressed his pride in his wife's efforts. He noted that the couple chose to keep the diagnosis private over the festive period to avoid worrying others. He says he is proud of Debbie's success with the walking challenge:

"I've been out a few times with her and uh she she's not showing any signs of slowing down with it. So uh I couldn't be prouder.

We found out sort of mid December. Um but made the choice not to tell anybody apart from immediate family until after Christmas because you don't want that sort of people worrying when there's nothing they can do.

There's nothing I can do at the moment apart from wait. So try not to get too down on it. And uh fingers crossed I have an operation in a week on Friday and that'll be it done. I've beaten it once. I'll beat it twice."

The experience of receiving the diagnosis in a clinical setting left a lasting impression on Debbie. She described the experience of being in the hospital waiting for results:

"When you're in waiting for an appointment and you get taken into a little room and when they tell you that you've got cancer and that was just a horrible experience to go through and I would not wish that on anybody.

The next appointment when we were finding out the results to make sure if it had spread or not they were delayed for an hour and I just saw so many other families being taken into this room the same as we were and it was just surreal the amount of different people.

I'm just one person. I'm not going to raise loads of money. I don't even have that many Facebook friends on social media or anything, but I just thought I need to just do something because it's not fair."

For Debbie, the challenge is as much a personal victory as it is a charitable one. She suffers from PTSD symptoms resulting from 18 years of domestic abuse and typically finds leaving the house difficult. She described January as her most "motivation-less and depressing month," yet she has committed to this challenge to support her husband and "the greater good".

As of mid-January, Debbie had raised £195 toward her £200 target, with her Fitbit recording over 193,000 steps. Cancer Research UK explains that such donations are vital for scientific advancement. The charity notes that £25 can kit out a lab with essential tools like Bunsen burners, while £200 can fund the purchase of DNA nucleotides to help scientists understand how things go wrong in cancer.

The organisation emphasises that there are over 200 types of cancer, and continued research is essential to find better ways to prevent, detect, and treat the disease. For the Gibsons, the focus remains on Mark's upcoming surgery and the positive impact of their community support.

To support Debbie, visit her fundraising page.