A Braunton man is preparing to abseil one of the biggest cliffs in North Devon to say thank you for the care his wife received while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Roger D'Rane has registered to take part in the Berry Beast Abseil being organised by Royal Devon Hospitals Charity on Sunday, August 4. He’ll be descending the 180ft sheer cliff face of Berry, near Hartland, nearly two years after wife Pauline was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.
He said he wanted to take on the challenge in honour of Pauline and many others like her, as well as all the clinicians, specialist breast care nurses, support workers and volunteers who supported her during her treatment. “Pauline had to be very brave and now it’s my turn,” said Roger, 70. “She was looked after by a wonderful team at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RD&E), and has had support from the Fern Centre, the cancer wellbeing centre at NDDH, as well as Force at the RD&E.
“Both have been comforting and calming refuges for Pauline and continue to be so, and this is my way of saying thank you.” Pauline, also 70, said her ‘whole life changed’ following her diagnosis in October 2022. “I am rarely overwhelmed but hearing the words ‘cancer’, ‘possible mastectomy’, ‘surgery’, ‘treatment’, and even ‘tattoos’, had a profound effect on me,” she said.
“I was a healthy 68-year-old, happily enjoying a lovely yet simple life with Roger, h.
