Around 150 family and friends have backed a woman's breast cancer battle, by raising more than £40,000 for the charity supporting her.
Jack Toomer, who is a director of Salisbury-based steel fabricators Toomers, organised a golf day, raising £28,595 in support of sister-in-law Tayler, who is from Alderbury.
This weekend, he will take on the Manchester Marathon, with £11,000 already raised in advance sponsorship for Hamwic House, Southampton Hospital's Charity.
Tayler, 30, had been living in Hong Kong with her partner Freddie – Jack’s brother - when early in 2023 she noticed a lump on her breast.
Originally diagnosed as a cyst, Tayler got on with life and started organising her wedding, getting married to Freddie in August. However, the cyst was growing at an alarming rate and she had a small procedure to have it removed.
Tayler, from Alderbury, said: “They also did a biopsy which confirmed that the cyst was in-fact cancerous. This was when our lives started to be turned upside down.
Tayler, who then underwent another round of surgery, added: “I would have to endure some heavy chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Being on the other side of the world from your family and friends whilst dealing with such a shocking situation, I knew that I needed to get back home for the next stage of the treatment.
“As soon as I was fit to fly from surgery, I booked myself a one-way ticket back to the UK and had a referral with the Southampton General Hospital Oncology team urgently. It’s staggering how diligent and caring the oncology unit has been! I was seen within a week by a consultant and chemo was started a couple of weeks after that. The NHS gets so much grief from the long waiting times but when it really matters, they have it covered."
Jack, 34, added: “The whole family and our friends wanted to show our support for Tayler so I thought I’d run a marathon. The problem is I wasn’t even a runner; I had a business to run and my wife Katie and I had just had our fourth baby. Things were a bit hectic to say the least!"
Jack can be sponsored at justgiving.com/page/jack-toomer-1705331266149
The golf day, at Paultons Golf Centre, attracted 80 golfers. The evening event and auction was attended by 150 friends and family.
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