Leeds nurse to walk marathon for charity with lifelong best friend after both parents tragically diagnosed with cancer within a year

Amelia Waterhouse and Florrie Kamstra, aged 22, will walk a marathon for cancer charity after Amelia's parents were both diagnosed within a year of each other

Amelia Waterhouse, aged 22, has had a tough few years after her dad David was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, and her mum Carole in 2020.

They were both diagnosed following the tragic death of two of Amelia's grandparents after her grandma passed away in 2017 from cancer, and the same with her grandpa in 2019.

Now, the student nurse from Leeds wants to raise money for Cancer Research UK to help fund more research into the disease in the hope that 'the same doesn't have to happen to someone else's family'.

Amelia (left), with her sister and parents, Carole and David

Amelia said: "My dad (aged 62) always says that without the help of Cancer Research UK he wouldn't be here today.

"He is in remission now, but he had cancer in his tonsils which his surgeon said he had never ever seen before and it was one in a million.

"The cancer wasn't found through his tonsils so if it hadn't have been looked into further by amazing research charities, they would never have found it as he wasn't displaying any symptoms.

"It's the same with my mum (aged 58), she had no symptoms but they found she had breast cancer after a routine mammogram.

Florrie's dog Peanut will join the friends on their charity walk

"Now I want to raise money for charity in the hope that someone else's family doesn't have to go through the same.

"It's now about prevention for others, and breast cancer can be hereditary so I'm all for backing the research behind it as a preventative method for myself, my sister and my cousins.

"All the people in my family have had different types of cancer and Cancer Research UK covers a big range of cancers so it's a great umbrella charity to raise money for."

Sister-to-two Amelia and Florrie Kamstra have been best friends for 17 years since they were both aged five starting school reception together, and Florrie has been 'by Amelia's side' throughout her difficulties.

Florrie, who is in the middle of a healthcare course in preparation for a paramedic science degree, was out on a walk last week when she saw that a new TikTok challenge involved people walking a marathon in a day.

She texted Amelia asking if she wanted to do the challenge with her and 'within an hour' the pair agreed they would do it and raise money for charity at the same time.

The pair have decided that they will walk 26 miles of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal on March 13 joined by Florrie's dog, Peanut.

Florrie, from Leeds, added: "If I can support Amelia and her family in any way then I want to.

"There's nothing I can do to change what has happened but I want to do the best I can to help them in future and do something to make them happy.

"Carole and David are amazing, and Amelia has gone through it like an absolute champion.

"She finished one degree and started another whilst all this was happening and I'm so proud of her.

"We've been best friends forever, our families are close, we've been on holiday together, and I just want to support them all.

"We like to think we're health care students saving the world together, side-by-side."

Donations can be made to support Amelia and Florrie here.