A dedicated 69-year-old military veteran is to take on a 500-mile pilgrimage to raise money in memory of his wife of nearly 50 years.
In three weeks’ time Clive Osborne, of Gedney Hill, is to begin the 33-day Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in memory of Doreen who died in December after fighting acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
The couple met in 1975 when Doreen was in the Royal Army Women’s Corps where Clive was a recruitment instructor – they married six weeks later.
“She was a fiery Yorkshire girl and we had a fabulous life together,” said Clive. “To sum her up, throughout her treatment she never once complained.”
Doreen became ill in August 2001, initially with a headache before also being diagnosed with meningitis and a sinus infection.
They were all found to be symptoms of AML.
The condition that affects blood cells is one of the less survivable cancers with a mortality rate of 80 per cent.
Doreen spent an initial three months in hospital and went through two rounds of chemotherapy.
After what Clive described as a ‘good two years, we even managed a holiday’, it was discovered Doreen had relapsed in January 2024.
After more chemo that left her too weak for a transfer on October 27 last year she made the decision to stop treatment.
“We spoke about it together and spoke to the children,” said Clive. “There were a lot of tears, but she wanted to prioritise spending time together and with our family rather than spending the rest of her life undergoing harsh treatment, which we were advised would only prolong her life for a few months”.
Doreen died on December 16.
In her memory and, to raise money for Leukaemia UK, on August 7 Clive will begin the walk from St Jean Pied de Port in France to Camino De Santiago in Spain. He’ll do at least 16 miles a day carrying a 11kg rucksack.
The grandfather of nine has persuaded son Graeme to walk with him for the first five days and daughter Hayley the last five.
They will be joined by old army friend Shane Downes and his partner Kate for the final leg and their journey into the historic city of Santiago in Spain’s north west.
It is a pilgrimage carried out by Catholics since the ninth century as it is believed to be the historic resting place of apostle St James.
“I’m not deeply religious, but I am religious,” said Clive. “I just thought this would be a suitable way to celebrate Doreen’s life.
“She wasn’t a practicing Christian, but believed in God.
“I wanted to do something in her memory.
“When she was diagnosed with AML, I only focused on the leukaemia word and not the acute myeloid.
“There’s no cure for AML and Leukaemia UK are the only charity that mention it, so I wanted to do something for them.”
Clive has ran 25 marathons and is a former army veteran running champion who once ran 40 miles while serving in the Falkland Islands for charity.
He says this is his ‘biggest ever challenge’ though and training has hit a slight pause due to tendonitis.
“It’s not necessarily the distance that’s difficult, it’s doing it every day and not recuperating.
“I’ll be staying in noisy hostels mostly too, though I’m used to that being ex-military.”
Clive regularly volunteers at Gedney Hill Memorial Hall helping serve dinners there and the committee are to put on fundraising events for him.
You can also donate at www.justgiving.com/page/clive-osborne-1 and check Clive’s progress via the Facebook page called ‘The Way For A Mum Like Doreen’.
