Terry’s high-flying fundraiser for cancer centre that helped wife through ‘10 months of hell’

A ‘hero’ husband will be soaring through the skies this week to raise money for the charity that supported his wife during her recent cancer treatment.

Terry Blewett from Wrafton will also be chalking a major tick on his bucket list when he steps onto the wings of a biplane in aid of hospital charity Over and Above on Friday (August 4).

The daredevil grandad hopes to raise £1,000 for the charity’s Fern Centre by doing the sponsored wing walk at Dunkeswell Airfield near Honiton.

The cancer and wellbeing centre at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) has been supporting wife Arlette, who was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer in September 2021.

Arlette said Terry, 78, was her ‘hero’ during her three-year recovery, which included an operation and radiotherapy, followed by oestrogen hormone treatment.

“It was a terrible time but Terry was there for me 24-7, even though he was working full-time,” said Arlette, 76.

“We’ve been married for 57 years and Terry is my hero and always has been – ever since the day we met when he gave me a lift home from work on his motorbike after I missed the last bus home.

“I’m so proud of him for taking on this challenge for me, and to give something back to support other local people going through cancer treatment.”

Arlette was given the all-clear 12 months after her diagnosis but suffered many months of depression and fatigue, side effects of the hormone treatment.

“It was 10 months of hell and I have never felt so low, but the Fern Centre was absolutely fantastic and I started feeling normal again around April this year,” she said.

“The centre offered me counselling, as well as complementary therapies including massage and reiki, crystal healing workshops and mindfulness pain management sessions.

“I don’t think I’d still be here were it not for Terry and the Fern Centre,” added Arlette, a former NDDH nurse who now works as a customer assistant at Tesco Braunton.

Terry, who works as a security guard at RMB Chivenor, said: “I saw first-hand what Arlette went through in her cancer journey and now I want to support anyone else who finds themselves in that situation.

“It was really hard to watch the woman you love go through this and be unable to fix it. So now I really want to show my support to her and all these wonderful people on their cancer journey, so please support me and donate what you can.”

Kate Constable, Over and Above community fundraiser, said: “We are so proud of Terry for taking on such a magnificent challenge in support of Arlette and many other local cancer patients here in North Devon.

“The Fern Centre is only here thanks to the generosity of local people, and with their ongoing support, will provide vital care for cancer patients when they need it most for many years to come.”

To sponsor Terry’s wing walk, visit www.justgiving.com/page/terry-blewett-1684242165645