WHEN Heike Banspach lost her 12-week-old baby in the womb she thought it was the last of her trauma.
But the death revealed she herself had a very aggressive form of cancer.
Ms Banspach was diagnosed with clear cell carcinoma, a rare type of tumour, in the lining of her womb.
“Although it was a horrible time, I look at it like my baby saved my life,” she says.
She initially thought she had suffered a miscarriage, but thanks to the diligence of staff at Sunshine Hospital, a sample was taken and revealed she had a category three cancer.
After completing years of radiation and chemotherapy, on May 26 she will walk from Bacchus Marsh to Melton with her German shepherd-cross Bonnie to raise money for the Peter MacCallum Institute.
Ms Banspach is involved in a 10-year trial for the treatment of clear cell carcinoma, involving both radiation and chemotherapy.
She also has arthritis, making activities like walking painful.
“I’ll walk through the pain. In Bacchus Marsh, I love all the trails and tracks and bush. It’s where I heal. Bonnie loves it, too; she’s my little bush baby,” she says.
After facing a life-threatening illness, she feels it’s her duty to help others.
“You think you’ve been given a death sentence, but when you survive it you have a duty to help others through it.”
She hopes to make the walk an annual event.
“The people at Peter MacCallum are amazing. I don’t know how they do it and stay so positive; they need as much funds as they can get.”
Ms Banspach will be joined by 30 others on the 18-kilometre walk. To donate or register, visit: heikeandbonsdash4life.org
-Andria Cozza
