St Helens woman takes on double abseil challenge to support cancer patients

A courageous St Helens woman is proving that nothing can hold her back – not even brain cancer or the loss of her leg – as she takes on a double abseil challenge to raise money for other people living with cancer.

Kirsty Stockton, 38 from St Helens, is currently living with a type of brain cancer called astrocytoma, and is using her story to inspire others while fundraising for The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity. After completing her first descent from the top of Liverpool Cathedral, Kirsty now has her sights set on the next big drop — down the side of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool this September.

Her bravery would be impressive in any context, but what makes her story even more extraordinary is her journey to get here.

At just 31, Kirsty developed sepsis after standing on a pin. The infection spread rapidly and doctors had no choice but to amputate her leg below the knee. It was a life-changing moment, but rather than let it define her, she used it to propel herself forward.

Kirsty said: “I grieved the old me and had to completely rebuild who I was, but sometimes, you need to hit the wall to realise how strong you can be.”

After recovering from her amputation, Kirsty changed career paths, going from a teacher to a mental health practitioner, using her own experiences to help others through tough times. She’s never let her disability limit her – walking with a prosthetic leg, playing in an able-bodied football team, and regularly heading to Anfield to support her beloved Liverpool FC.

Then, in 2022, came another curveball: a diagnosis of brain cancer. Despite undergoing surgery, the tumour began to grow back, and Kirsty is now receiving targeted therapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. But in true Kirsty fashion, she’s tackling treatment head-on, with strength, humour and determination.

She said: “I wasn’t given the option to be brave – I had to be fearless, this abseil isn’t just about getting down a wall. It’s about showing what’s possible, even when life throws everything at you. I live by a quote from Carl Jung – ‘I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.’”

It was during treatment at Clatterbridge that Kirsty heard about the fundraising abseil events and knew she wanted to get involved. Not just to challenge herself, but to give something back to the centre and help fund its ground-breaking cancer research.

“The team at Clatterbridge have been a lifeline for me. Their care and commitment to research is life-changing, not just for me but for so many others. I want to help make sure that work continues.”

Kirsty is aiming to raise over £700 through her double abseil challenge, which will go towards Clatterbridge’s pledge to invest £5 million into research over the next five years. That funding will support cutting-edge treatments, early-phase clinical trials and expanded access to innovative cancer care for patients across the region.

Rachel Heslin, Events Fundraiser for The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, said: “Kirsty is such an inspiration. It’s thanks to people like her that we’re able to support the one in two people affected by cancer in our region. Her determination is incredible, and we’re so excited to welcome her back for the second abseil this September.”

The Clatterbridge Abseil will take place on Sunday 14 September at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool. Participants can choose a morning or afternoon slot, and anyone feeling brave can sign up to take part themselves.

To sponsor Kirsty or find out how to get involved, head to the website.

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