A BRADFORD on Avon web designer who has been given only months to live is to walk nine miles to raise funds for Bowel Cancer UK.

Amy Mattingly, 32, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in April after having a stillbirth six months into her pregnancy.

The cancer has since spread to her liver, and now she’s been given only months to live by specialists at Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Amy, of Barton Orchard, Bradford on Avon, says she intends to “make the most” of the time she has left.

“It has been hard to absorb because I still feel fine,” said Amy, a Canadian who has lived in the UK for the past ten years.

“Unfortunately, by the time I had my diagnosis, the cancer had spread aggressively and rapidly to my liver.

“The specialists have only given me two months to live. I have roughly a ten per cent chance of the chemotherapy being effective.”

Amy is married to Chris Mattingly, 34, a web designer who runs his own business, Blubolt in Bath.

When she told him about the cancer, she says “he went white and nearly vomited.”

She has now launched a campaign to raise £5,000 for Bowel Cancer UK, the country’s leading research charity for bowel cancer.

She is planning to walk nine miles along the Kennet & Avon Canal from Bradford on Avon to Bath on Saturday, October 14 to raise funds.

Amy will be fairly easy to spot – she’ll be the one wearing a gold cape.

Since launching the campaign this week, Amy has already raised £1,000 and has had to increase her initial £600 target.

“I was not expecting such a good response but I am embracing it and am trying to encourage people to join me on the walk.”

Amy and Chris are also trying to raise awareness of bowel cancer, which increasingly is affecting more and more young people.

“Our aim is to reduce the time to diagnosis. I had to wait from January to April to see a consultant.

“Eventually, I had to go private because I couldn’t get to see anyone through the NHS.”

To support Amy’s appeal, please log into www.justgiving.com/fundraising/boa-bath

To read Amy’s story and to donate, please log into her blog at www.catslovepeanutbutter.com