Carnforth Chiropodist Carol Sedgwick’s world was devastated when her husband Ian died of stomach and oesophageal cancer in 2023. Like many families, Carol and her teenage sons found strength through the support, care and counselling from local charities.
Gradually rebuilding their new future, a recent “housewarming” for her renovated home clinic turned into a vibrant fundraising event celebrating Ian’s life.
“You have to find ways to carry on, one step at a time,” reflects Carol, who reduced her working hours to make sure she was there for her sons, James and Joe, aged 16 and 15 when Ian died.
Diagnosed during Covid, restrictions added extra stress to the family’s treatment and palliative journey, making support from local organisations “invaluable”.
“St. John’s Hospice were amazing, especially the Forget Me Not Centre, which provides a safe, compassionate environment for families during care and bereavement. Lancaster CancerCare’s counselling and signposting services were also invaluable. Through them I found John Woodward’s Alexander Technique therapy, which really helped me find ease and equilibrium from the physical and mental stresses my body and mind were under.”
Fundraiser Celebrated “Loss, Love and Life”
Gradually rebuilding their new future, qualified chiropodist Carol focussed on a big project: upgrading her Carnforth home clinic into a fully accessible, modern treatment centre. Completed last year, the “clinic-warming” event proved serendipitous.
“It was James and Joe who realised the date we’d chosen coincided with the anniversary of Ian’s death, and they said: why don’t we turn it into a celebration of his memory which can raise some money for these amazing local charities?”
Around 65 friends, family and clients attended the party last weekend, sharing stories, memories and photographs, as well as admiring Carol’s “moving forward with gratitude and positivity” new clinic facilities, where she practices three days a week. The fundraising, through donations and a raffle, hasn’t stopped there.
“People have been so generous,” says Carol. “Hearing about it, clients have continued adding to the fund; I’ve even had local people popping in with envelopes! We’re currently at £635 to divide between St John’s Hospice and CancerCare. I couldn’t have done this without the love and support of my family and of course, Susan – my right hand woman at the clinic. We all miss Ian every single day, but we’re turning our love and loss into positive steps, just as he’d have wanted.”
