A BRAVE woman diagnosed with four different types of cancer in the last decade has told of her mission to raise funds to support cancer patients like herself.

Fanica Ciobotaru, an employee at Clydebank Housing Association (CHA), was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, endometrial cancer in 2016, colon cancer in 2022, and then liver metastases one month later.

Clydebank Post: Fanica Ciobotaru has been an employee at CHA since 2017Fanica Ciobotaru has been an employee at CHA since 2017 (Image: Beatson Cancer Charity)

The 55-year-old is currently receiving treatment at The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre which is based at Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow.

Despite this, Fanica – who was born in Romania but settled in Glasgow in 2015 – is determined to take on the Kiltwalk next weekend.

She said: "In the last ten years I have had four types of cancer: breast cancer in 2013, endometrial cancer in 2016, and then in 2022 colon cancer and one month later, I was diagnosed with liver metastases. 

“I'm an energetic person, I think positively and nothing scares me anymore. 

"I had an operation for colon cancer in Glasgow at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and now I am a patient at The Beatson hospital where I am undergoing immunotherapy under the careful supervision of Dr Janet Graham, to whom I would like to thank in this way. 

“I am very satisfied with the way I am treated as a patient. I am quite motivated to help cancer patients myself.”

Fanica, alongside thousands of people from across Scotland, will take part in the sold-out Glasgow Kiltwalk on April 30 to raise money for charity.

Over 500 Kiltwalkers are expected to fundraise for Beatson Cancer Charity.

Among them is a Clydebank family who are lacing up their boots this year in memory of their beloved relatives.

Clydebank Post: Jay McKellar and her husband Graham and son, Gary Voy will take on the Kiltwalk in memory of Jay's mum and dadJay McKellar and her husband Graham and son, Gary Voy will take on the Kiltwalk in memory of Jay's mum and dad (Image: Beatson Cancer Charity)

Jay McKellar and her husband Graham and son, Gary Voy, will be taking part in the charity event in memory of Jay’s mum and dad.

Joseph McLean McIntyre sadly died following a lung cancer diagnosis on May 23, 2017, and Janet McIntyre died on April 19, 2010.

Jay explained that the family fundraises for Beatson Cancer Charity every year.

The 50-year-old added: “Every year we do a challenge to raise funds for Beatson Cancer Charity and this year we decided on the Glasgow Kiltwalk. 

“Both were diagnosed with incurable inoperable lung cancer and both were treated at the Beatson hospital.  

“The Beatson hospital and Beatson Cancer Charity offer so much to their patients, over and above their treatments, and we feel that it’s a cause that needs ongoing support. 

“This will be year six of fundraising, we usually try and do it between April 19 and May 23 as they are the anniversaries of the days they passed away. 

“The Glasgow Kiltwalk falls nicely in between the dates. We go out weekly training, sometimes for distance sometimes for pace, but it’s getting real now." 

Walkers have a choice of taking part in three different routes.

The first is the Mighty Stride (22.7 miles), then there is the Big Stroll (14.4 miles), and finally the Wee Wander (three miles).

The Mighty Stride begins at Glasgow Green and finishes in Balloch, while the Big Stroll starts in Clydebank and the Wee Wander kicks off from Loch Lomond Shores before finishing at Moss O’Balloch Park.

This year, the oldest Kiltwalker for Beatson Cancer Charity is 76 years old with the youngest aged just six.

Over the years nearly £1 million (£964,922.51) has been raised by 3,248 people who took part in the Kiltwalk in aid of the charity.