Pregnant amputee walks 11km for the Bone Cancer Research Trust

Bethany Barnes, of Thornhill, Egremont, completed a sponsored walk around Ennerdale Water on Saturday which has raised nearly £10,000 for the Bone Cancer Research Trust.

The 26-year-old, who is currently 18 weeks pregnant, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma for the first time in December 2019 after experiencing pain in her hip.

Amputee Bethany Barnes has raised nearly £10,000 for charity after walking 11km around Ennerdale Water (Image: Submitted)

Bethany underwent a femur replacement and 10 months of chemotherapy. She then went on to have a daughter, Rhea in September 2022 but began experiencing pain in her hip after giving birth.

Scans in August 2023 confirmed the cancer had returned to the soft tissue around the hip area and Bethany was told her leg would need to be amputated to remove the cancer.

She had recently discovered she was pregnant with her second child but had to make the heart-wrenching decision to terminate the pregnancy before having her leg amputated in October 2023.

Bethany is now looking forward to being a mother again and is going for regular scans to make sure the cancer has not returned.

She said: “I’ve got scans this week to check that the cancer is still away. You’re always in limbo for the first years as to if you are still clear. Fingers crossed, everything is still alright. That’s all you can do.

“It’s going to be a different type of pregnancy and newborn experience than the first time but we are ready as can be.”

Bethany navigates the rocky terrain during her walk around Ennerdale Water (Image: Submitted)

Bethany completed the 7.5 mile walk in just over five and half hours and hopes it will raise awareness of osteosarcoma.

She said: “It was really good. There was about 70 people there. The first half was rocky and I was concentrating so much on where I needed to put my crutches so I wasn’t concentrating on how tired I was.

“I think the furthest I have walked since surgery is 6-7km so it was double what I have walked since the amputation. My arms are still a bit achy now but I was expecting a lot worse.

“The whole fundraising and charity research relies on the public and people doing things like this. It’s great that everyone pulls together at times like this.”

Bethany thanked everyone who sponsored her, The Gather at Ennerdale for staying open to provide free refreshments after the fundraising walk, Morrisons and Tesco for donating food, the staff in Tesco for their extra fundraising and Graham Construction for donating bags and water bottles.

To donate, go to: www.gofundme.com/f/to-hopefully-finish-off-my-cancer-story?