Thornhill amputee to walk round Ennnerdale after battling bone cancer

Bethany Barnes, of Thornhill, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma aged 22 in December 2019 after she had been experiencing pain in her hip.

The 26-year-old, who at time was in the Navy and based at Faslane military base, had a femur replacement in April 2020 and then 10 months of chemotherapy.

Bethany is currently undergoing physiotherapy after having her leg amputated (Image: Submitted)

She then went on to have a daughter, Rhea in September 2022 but began experiencing pain in her hip after giving birth which was initially put down to the pregnancy.

However, 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.

Bethany had recently discovered she was pregnant with her second child but had to make the heart-wrenching decision to terminate the pregnancy in order to undergo further scans.

Her leg was amputated in October 2023 and she is currently receiving physiotherapy at The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC Stanford Hall) near Loughborough.

Bethany recovering in hospital with daughter, Rhea (Image: Submitted)

Bethany now wants to raise awareness of osteosarcoma, which she says is relatively unheard of.

She said: “I did a walk when I first got diagnosed. I decided to do one in January 2020 before  I went to get my femur replaced which took off more than I expected. We raised nearly £5,000.

“I thought this time, hopefully this is the end of my cancer journey so I can get round Ennerdale as an amputee, put the cancer to bed and raise a bit more money and awareness of it.

“Nobody has a clue about it when I’m going through all my physio. I would like to raise more money than last time but even a couple of hundred pounds, I’m happy with.”

Bethany with her daughter, Rhea (Image: Submitted)

Bethany will complete the fundraising walk on July 13 and the money raised will be donated to the Bone Cancer Research Trust.

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