A Lincolnshire man has raised more than £35,000 for Lincoln County Hospital’s Breast Unit through a series of annual fishing matches, as a heartfelt thank you for the care his wife received following a breast cancer diagnosis.
Chris and Gudrun Frankish from North Hykeham, have spent the last seven years supporting the Breast Unit after Gudrun’s breast cancer was detected during what she describes as a chance invitation for her first mammogram in 2019, when she was just 48 years old.
The mammogram showed a lump and after a biopsy confirmed it was cancer, Gudrun had surgery to remove the lump and surrounding lymph nodes. “I remember the day well,” said Gudrun, “it was my 49th birthday!”
Gudrun underwent seven weeks of radiotherapy and remained on medication for five years. Throughout her treatment and recovery, Chris was by her side, caring for her through some of the most difficult days.
“The first time I came for treatment, I remember wanting a cup of coffee, but there weren’t any facilities available,” said Gudrun. “We thought that everyone attending the clinic would benefit from having access to a hot drink, something to steady the nerves while waiting for appointments.”
Chris was keen to say thank you for the care Gudrun received and decided to fundraise to buy the unit a coffee machine.
Being a passionate fisherman and member of the Archer Fishing Syndicate at Culverthorpe Lakes near Grantham, Chris organised a fishing competition, attracting around 25 anglers and raising enough money to purchase two coffee machines, one for the breast screening clinic and another for the diagnostic clinic, helping to provide comfort to patients attending appointments.
The competition was so successful that it turned into an annual event, and over the last seven years has raised more than £35,000.
This fundraising effort became even more remarkable when Chris suffered a stroke in 2022. He was unable to speak and had limited mobility in his left arm. The fishing competition became a powerful motivator in Chris’s recovery. He said: “I needed to keep my mind active and planning the fishing match gave me purpose to get up each day. I love carp fishing and I wanted to be able to hold the rod in my hand again.”
Julie Morgan, Macmillan Cancer Care Coordinator with the Breast Care Nurse Team at Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group cannot thank the couple enough for their generosity. She said: “It’s amazing to see what they have achieved over the last seven years. We have so much pride in what Chris has done to support the Lincoln Breast Unit and the difference these funds have made for our patients.”
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity Manager, Ben Petts said “Chris and Gudrun’s generosity has touched many lives. As well as supporting the maintenance and stocking of the coffee machines, their donations have funded numerous items over the years including creative toolkits supporting children affected by cancer in the family and furniture for the garden at the Breast Unit. Their generosity will ensure we can continue to fund other improvements which will support future patients facing a cancer diagnosis.”
For Chris however, the fundraising has always been about one thing- the fact that the early detection of cancer gave him and Gudrun more years together.
More information on the work of United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity can be found on the charity website
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