Towie’s Chris Clark reveals heartbreaking moment girlfriend Amber Dowding found out her mum had breast cancer
Amber’s mum Maria was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and is now in remission. Today Chris canoed 22 miles to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer and reveals that his girlfriend’s mum was his inspiration.
CHRIS Clark has revealed the heartbreaking moment that his girlfriend Amber Dowding discovered her mum was suffering from an aggressive form of breast cancer.
The Towie star is taking part in Stand Up To Cancer’s Great Canoe Challenge today and is especially poignant to him after watching Maria Dowding, 49, battle the disease.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun Online, Chris said: “Last August Amber’s mum was diagnosed with breast cancer; it was stage three so quite aggressive.”
Recalling the moment that that would change Amber’s life, he said: “I remember Amber’s mum and dad calling us and telling us to come home, we’d been on holiday together and she was meant to stay at mine, but they said straight away that they wanted us there tonight.
“And to see Amber - to see a human being react like that, I’d never had experience of that, it was devastating for her.”
Maria after undergoing chemotherapy Maria was told in March that she was in remission, and Chris says her illness has strengthened the family’s bond.
“It brought the family closer together and now her mum’s in remission and she’s healthy and she’s so strong.
“It’s been a really hard experience for her though.
“They didn’t let it defeat them and I think they’re such an inspiration and she does so much to raise money and awareness for cancer now.”
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He added: “Her mum and dad are really proud of me for doing this today.”
Today Chris partnered with other cancer survivors today who are embarking on a five day rowing marathon, and stopped to speak to The Sun Online while on a break from canoeing the 22 miles.
He said: “It’s something to look back on and think, ‘I completed that and raised awareness.’
“It’s something I’ll look back on in 10, 20 years’ time and think, you never know who this will help, I might never meet them, but it’s the little things that count in life.
“I haven’t had many challenges this year and now I’m floating on a canoe on a canal.”
Chris is taking part in Stand Up To Cancer’s Great Canoe Challenge. Stand Up To Cancer is a joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.
For more information visit: standuptocancer.org.uk/canoe, to support the Paddlers and donate £5 or £10 text CANOE5 orCANOE10 to 70404*, or donate online at standuptocancer.org.uk/canoe
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