A beloved retired headteacher passed away just months after she began experiencing difficulty swallowing her meals. Claire Bolton, 68, from Speke, was diagnosed with stage four oesophageal cancer in September last year, and died just 64 days later.
The Diagnosis
Ciara Bolton, 30, said her mother first grew worried last summer when she found it hard to swallow food. Because Claire had suffered from heartburn for years, the family initially attributed the symptoms to an oesophageal hernia. However, after visiting doctors, she received the devastating diagnosis of stage four oesophageal cancer.
Claire had devoted more than 30 years to working in schools across Liverpool, including St Hugh's Catholic Primary School in Wavertree, and also spent a decade teaching at an international school in Greece.
Mother's Character
Ciara described her mother as 'one of a kind'. She said: 'My mum was hilarious, warm and so selfless. She never put herself first. She split up from my dad when we were young so she raised us on her own. She was just incredible and I'll never meet anyone like her. She was such a big character, everything feels quiet now she's gone.'
The Medical Journey
In July, Claire underwent an endoscopy which revealed a mass in her oesophagus. An initial biopsy was inconclusive, offering the family hope that it wasn't cancer. But just two weeks later, she was diagnosed with stage four oesophageal cancer. Doctors confirmed that surgery was not possible as the cancer had spread to lymph nodes near her stomach.
Ciara said: 'I was in complete denial. I did what you should never do and I Googled it. It said most people with oesophageal cancer get two years. But my mum died within 64 days.'
Claire began chemotherapy at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Wirral and had a stent inserted to keep her oesophagus open. However, her health deteriorated rapidly. She stopped eating, was sick frequently, and could barely walk. After her second round of chemotherapy, she was hospitalised and never returned home. She died in November following a two-week hospital stay.
The Fundraising Challenge
To honour her mother's memory, Ciara is walking the equivalent of a marathon daily for five consecutive days, covering over 130 miles from Hull to Liverpool between July 23 and 27. She will be joined by friends Caroline and Isobel. The challenge is entirely self-funded so that every penny donated goes to Cancer Research UK.
Ciara has already raised nearly £5,000 and aims to reach £10,000. She said: 'I love camping and saw Jo Brand had done it for Comic Relief in seven days. I knew I could do it in less than that. With oesophageal cancer, there are no symptoms until it's too late. I'm doing it with my friends who loved her just as much as I did.'
Ciara also credited her aunty Carmel for supporting her mother throughout the illness. 'My aunty Carmel was by my mum's side constantly. She was a hero. I couldn't have gone through this without her.'
Reflecting on the walk's conclusion, Ciara added: 'When I get back to Liverpool, I think I'll just break down. To have achieved that, especially with it being for charity, is incredible - but to do it for my mum, I just know she'd be so proud of me.'
