In memory of Claire

In memory of

Claire Bolton

9th Jul 1957 - 19th Nov 2025

My Story

In November 2025, I lost my mum, Claire, to oesophageal cancer. She died less than three months after her diagnosis in September 2025. She was the best and most selfless person I've ever known and her loss has left a hole in my life that is too difficult to put into words. By the time my mum had symptoms, it was already too late - this isn't good enough. Before her diagnosis, i'd never even heard of someone with oesophageal cancer and since then, I've found out it's very common and one of the most untreatable cancers in the UK. I can't imagine another family having to go through what mine did. We felt we had nowhere to turn, no concrete answers and no hope when it came to such an awful disease. On 25th June 2026, I will be walking from Hull to Liverpool over five days. This works out at an average of 26-30 miles per day. I will be funding this event myself, alongside my two friends Caroline and Isobel. This challenge is not only in memory of my amazing mum, but also to fund research that will hopefully make a difference to people in the same situation. Every penny counts. To find out more about my experience of cancer, read my story: https://www.carpentersgroup.co.uk/news/the-support-that-carried-me-through-loss/