Helene tackles trek in husband’s memory

A driving instructor has swapped her car for her walking boots for a trek to support the Marie Curie Hospice that cared for her late husband.

Helene Cook is one of 28 adventurers trekking through Costa Rica to raise more than £100,000 to support the work of the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff & the Vale, based in Penarth.

It’s a cause close to Helene’s heart as her late husband, popular local ambulance driver Adrian Cook, was cared for at the hospice last year after being diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. He died last February aged just 44.

“He was here for six days. He was at home here, laughing with Nurses," said Helene. "They were fantastic with him, but also with me, as well. I practically lived here for six days. They told me that I didn’t have to leave, they fed me – nothing was too much trouble. For the both of us, it enabled us to have six days of normality.

“In Adrian’s case, all they could really do for him was to try and make him pain free and as happy as possible. But for me, just to have someone to talk to, or to explain what was happening to him, made a big difference.

“Adrian was a really compassionate, caring guy. He kept saying how wonderful it was here. He had a smile for everybody. We’re so lucky to have the hospice here because it is an amazing place. I can’t speak highly enough about the care he received, it really was second to none. I’ve got to give something back.”

Helene, 47, who is joined by friends Gemma Evans, Jackie Urwin and Lisa Taylor, is climbing volcanoes and treking through jungles and rainforest as part of the Costa Rican-adventure, and the foursome have already raised nearly £17,000.

She said that the Costa Rica trek was something that really appealed to her ‘super fit’ husband: “Adrian said to me ‘You should do this trek’ and we had wanted to do it together. The Day he passed away my best friend said ‘Right we’ll do it then’.

“Adrian would have loved it. He was so fit. He would have been carrying us all. His inspiration lives on in me. Nothing ever came easy to Adrian, he had to fight for everything, and fight he did.

“The trek is going to be tough emotionally and physically, but I imagine that all of us on the trip will have a story. I’m going out there and I’m doing something for a good cause and I’m enjoying myself with my three best friends at the same time.”

Georgina Burke, Community Fundraiser for the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff & the Vale, is among those to have joined Helene on the Costa Rica trek: “We’re indebted to supporters like Helene who want to give something back and raise funds to support our work. This upcoming trek is one of our most popular treks to date, and the funds raised by our 28 trekkers will help support people living with a terminal illness, and their families, who access our services here in Penarth.”

The intrepid trekkers left Penarth on Friday 1 April to depart for Costa Rica.

To donate to Helene’s fundraising please visit www.justgiving.com/helene-cook

Marie Curie is hosting an information evening for would-be walkers interested in taking part in the charity’s next fundraising trek to Sri Lanka in November 2017. The information event will be held at the Mint & Mustard restaurant in Penarth on Thursday 19^th May at 6.30pm.

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