Kilimanjaro Climb for rare cancer survivor
Freddie Cole from South Cave is going to great lengths to give back to Castle Hill Hospital after a rollercoaster cancer journey.
In the autumn of 2022, Freddie was diagnosed with Stage 4 Burkitts lymphoma, a rare cancer of both the bone marrow and the lymph system which affects just 210 people in the UK each year.
Freddie was treated on Ward 33, the Teenage and Young Adult Unit at the Queen’s Centre, Castle Hill Hospital, which became his home for four months.
Despite numerous rounds of aggressive chemotherapy, multiple blood and platelet transfusions and even a bout of sepsis once he finally made it home after treatment, Freddie’s resolve, coupled with family support and great care from the unit, saw him through and he was given the all-clear last year.
Now, after more than two years in remission, Freddie – who may be a familiar face to those who live in South Cave or visit Drewton’s farm shop – has decided to give back to those who cared for him.
Freddie has organised a number of events, auctions, dinners and raffles to raise funds and, crucially, also to raise awareness of rare blood cancers and the importance of early diagnosis.
Last week, he set out on his biggest challenge to date; to climb Kilimanjaro to raise funds for both Hull Hospitals charity, WISHH, and the Teenage Cancer Trust. He originally set a target of £4,000 but has surpassed this and still growing!
Freddie says: “I set myself a goal to climb Kilimanjaro in 2025 to support the hospital and raise awareness and funds for the WISHH Charity and Teenage Cancer Trust. I have continued to look after myself leading up to this and trained as much as I could to prepare my body for the challenge.
“Donations to help raise funds for these two amazing charities, to help patients and families in similar life changing situations, would be gratefully accepted.
“I can’t thank all the consultants, nurses, Teenage Cancer Trust, and the entire team enough, who work in Ward 33 in The Queen’s Centre, at Castle Hill. They do an amazing job and are so kind and friendly. I nearly lost my life and they cared and looked after me, to cure me.
“I would also like to say thank you so much to everyone who has supported me through this. I received so many kind words, prayers, cards and gifts from family, friends, and customers of the farm shop.
“And to all those people who give blood. I needed so many transfusions and I wouldn’t be here without them.”
You can read more about Freddie’s cancer journey and donate online. Updates on his Kilimanjaro trek are available through the Drewtons facebook page and if you’re interested in becoming a blood donor, you can find out how on the NHSBT website.