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Franziska Conrad

Remember September 2026

Donate to Franziska and help them hit their goal of £470!

In loving memory of

Joachim Conrad

27/08/1947 - 25/07/2017

We wish you were here.

Support my challenge to fight for a world without pancreatic cancer

My uncle died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 52, I am 47 now. In mid-May 2017, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, he was 69. By the time it was found, it had already spread to his liver, lungs and abdominal cavity.

Looking back, there were signs, but none that seemed unusual at the time. He had suffered with back pain for years after breaking his back in a car accident in his twenties, so worsening pain wasn't immediately alarming. He was a little more tired than usual, but he was in his late sixties, and my mum has always been the faster walker. He had stopped drinking because alcohol simply didn't agree with him anymore, and he had lost some weight, but not noticeably around his stomach, so it went largely unnoticed.

His battle with pancreatic cancer was fierce, devastating and heartbreakingly short. He tried palliative chemotherapy in the hope of slowing the disease, but sadly it appeared to accelerate his decline rather than help. Just over two months after his diagnosis, he died on 25 July 2017. Those final weeks were unimaginably difficult, and while losing him was devastating, we were also grateful that he no longer had to endure such suffering.

For our family, pancreatic cancer is not just a statistic or something that happens to other people. It is a lived reality that has profoundly shaped our lives and reminds us of just how aggressive and unforgiving this disease can be.

This September, it will have been over 470 weeks since we lost Dad. Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer in the UK, and 31 people are diagnosed every single day.

Studies have found that stress accelerates the growth of pancreatic cancer, so this September, my busiest work month of the year, I'm challenging myself to get up, get moving, prioritise my health and walk 140 km to remember my Dad and raise awareness of this particular cancer. 140km because 140 people die every 5 days in the UK from pancreatic cancer.

If you're able to, please consider making a donation. Every contribution helps support research, raise awareness and bring hope to families facing this devastating disease.

My Activity Tracking

161
kms

My target 140 kms

Please help me reach my goal

Raised

£759 + £125.14 GiftAid

My Goal

£470

Select amount to donate

£14
£25
£58
£
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My memory wall for my dad, Joachim

My Tribute Post

I’m walking for because with my dad the world lost a force of nature! He was driven, loving, stubborn, funny, brave, tenacious and taken way too soon. He wasn’t ready to go and none of us were ready to let him go. So to make sure that we find ways to screen for pancreatic cancer better, find it earlier, find less invasive therapies to treat it and if not save but extend people’s lives in way they are worth living. Thank you to all the people on this September challenge for helping achieve that.

My achievements

My updates

The last walk

Day 30, 8km… 156km in total! And over £650 raised! Thank you so much again!! A final post of the link, just in case you want to add to the total: https://fundraise.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/fundraisers/franziskaconrad My final official walking day today, lucky to have the day off and the sun out. I saw skylarks, ravens, white longtails, pheasants, partridges, jackdaws, robins, crows, woodpeckers, deer, dragon flies, lady birds and so many little flowers all bursting out in their proudest colours in the September sun. The mushrooms are getting bigger but I still haven’t found any edible ones. So 30 days of walking have taught me more about the corner of the world we chose to settle in, it made my legs stronger and my head calmer, it made me listen and look more closely again. And although the challenge is over I’m aiming to keep walking… always remembering whilst I’m out there, learning something new on every walk, taking better care of myself during that first busy teaching month.

It’s done!

My final challenge walk today, day, 27, 4km, 140km completed! It’s been amazing and I will just keep on walking… It was all autumn smells and fungi today. Made it home just before the rain for tea, cake and sofa snuggles with the Winnie. Pancreatic Cancer UK

Full moon walking to end the day

A lot of work walking today, just under 5km with 1 km of moonlight walking and 22 flights of stairs climbed. Almost there - 131 km completed.

Beach walking part 2

Day 23 - 5km along Poole Bay, with great views across to the Polar Bear, the picture is Mudeford Spit nestled into the gap between the Solent and Christchurch Harbour. This is one of my favourite places in the world, it used to be on my door step for 20 odd years and I miss it but it’s only a 45 minute drive away now. Today was so lovely and warm I had a dip in the sea half way. 125 kms completed today.

Work kms today - cross campus teaching

6km - session to session and campus to campus!

Lots of walking today

I walked through Broom. Heather & Myrtle glowing in evening light this evening, tonic for the soul.

New Forest Walking

Lovely trot through blooming heather accompanied by a little old dog, ponies, friends and family and some gorgeous blue skies. Pub lunch treat.

All the berries

7.7 km today, ravens being chased by rooks and swallows hunting. Grey day today, but thanks to the stiff breeze the blue sky was never far away.

Blustery beach walk

A short one today, just under 4 km, fragmented walks, but some of it along the beach.

Walking wonderfulness

7kms today, loads of thinking whilst walking today. Reflective, soul searching

Zen monocultures

Walking across fields and along hedge rows tonight, 6km of birds, bunnies and berries. More than half way now!

Sun salutations

Day 15 - Local sunset walking, rooks returning to their roost, sun salutations, fresh meadow grass, no wind, the stillness of an early autumn evening, still warm, leaves turning, colour returning after the scorched browns of the summer. Passed the half-way mark today - 66km to go!

Autumn colours

5km today, through the fields, taking in autumn colours with a hint of spring here and there after the rain.

Very big Shrooms

Slow dog today, so hard to get any distance but we managed just under 4km. Wet and humid walking, the mushrooms are loving it.

Summer and Autumn

- 5.68km today, hard to fit a walk into a busy Saturday, first time with headphones, listening to The Dog Stars and taking in the world around me. Ravens, hare and a Violet Ground Beetle. Passion flowers and cyclamen, one holding on to summer, the other welcoming autumn. Bring on day 13!

All by myself

day 10!! 7km, autumn, and a little spring, all the birds including kites, ravens, a lone swallow and guinea fowls, more fruiting bodies, up and downy walking, all by myself!

Shire Rack, Oxford Street, Forest Bathing and Fruiting Bodies

This evening we walked along the border of Wiltshire and Dorset, the Shire Rack, we crossed Oxford Street, bathed in evening light filtered onto the forest floor by some mighty old oaks and found plenty of fungal friends everywhere. Another 5 Km with Underwood & Co

Exploring Pottern Park (Verwood)

Me and the pooch today, new walk, Verwood to West Moors Country Park. Lots of water, sculptures, instruments, golfers and trees, trees, trees! 5 km loop.

This is a wasp

Evening walking again with Underwood & Co, enjoying the mild autumn air, so many rabbits and this Mossy Rose Gall Wasp. Almost 5 Km today.

Forest bathing

An evening of trees, deer, hare, gold finches, blue tits, nuthatches, siskins, ravens, kites and busy squirrels. Slower pace with Winnie but good to have her with me for these walks. Go Underwood & Co. 4.5 km

Chasing Pulp

This evening‘s walk was supported by Underwood & Co. We set out to find the „The end of the Road“ festival in order to listen to Pulp whilst stomping through the darkness. We had tons of fun, a glorious sunset, hare, owls and bats, deer, horses, pheasants, cows and sheep. Credit to Ordnance Survey maps for keeping us on track even when we went off track and added an extra 2.5 kms. So 7.5 kms walked tonight, loved it!

Dedicated walks x 2

Walked at lunchtime, just to break up the day and this evening. Exploring the neighbourhood, kites, berries and little messages left by the universe along the way.

Autumn has arrived

Evening walk in the dark, the darkness is back, so are the snails and the stars ✨- 4km today

First (slightly fragmented) 5kms

We spent the day driving back from Anglesey today, so walking happened in stages, a couple of shorter walks with Miss Winnie and an evening march around the village tonight. I walked without headphones and just took in the smells, the fading light of day, our local bats hunting and it was lovely to be out there before settling into the our home again after 2 weeks away. I am looking forward to at least one of these walks every day this month.

Thank you to my sponsors

£15

Sarah Beasley

Congratulations 🎉 Superb achievement for a vwry worthy cause ❤️ Some beautiful photos along the way too. Xxx

£64.35

Pat Underwood

Well done Fran

£28.44

Jude

Bravo Fran - I’ve loved reading about your lovely walks and seeing all your photos and descriptions. Also to read about and see pics of your darling dad - I’m sure he’s immensely proud of you. Sending love, keep on walking 🚶‍♀️ ♥️

£50

Keith Chester

Donation from Rob & Hilary

£28.44

Bibo's Sandwich Bar

Congrats Fran you legend!

£6.56

Julie

£177.87

Jessica Eber

£45.10

Chris & Kamilla

£10

Emma Yeung

What a lovely thing to do, go Fran! All the best. From Emma and Charly

£20

David Stock

£12.25

Kay Wilkinson

Hi Fran, terrible disease and wish you luck on your trek, Best wishes Kay (AUB)

£58

David Walker

Well done Fran. This is a great cause to be supporting!

£23.45

Phil Sewell

£10

Hazel

£20

Keith & Cresta

Good luck Fran x

£109.25

Gary Underwood

Go Fran! Such an amazing thing to do 🤩 Love you xx

£28.44

Tink Stephenson

Sending lots of love, Fran xx

£23.45

Andy Schwarz

£28.44

Franziska Conrad

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Thank you to my sponsors

£58

David Walker

Well done Fran. This is a great cause to be supporting!

£50

Keith Chester

Donation from Rob & Hilary

£45.10

Chris & Kamilla

£28.44

Jude

Bravo Fran - I’ve loved reading about your lovely walks and seeing all your photos and descriptions. Also to read about and see pics of your darling dad - I’m sure he’s immensely proud of you. Sending love, keep on walking 🚶‍♀️ ♥️

£28.44

Bibo's Sandwich Bar

Congrats Fran you legend!

£28.44

Tink Stephenson

Sending lots of love, Fran xx

£28.44

Franziska Conrad

£23.45

Phil Sewell

£23.45

Andy Schwarz

£20

David Stock

£20

Keith & Cresta

Good luck Fran x

£15

Sarah Beasley

Congratulations 🎉 Superb achievement for a vwry worthy cause ❤️ Some beautiful photos along the way too. Xxx

£12.25

Kay Wilkinson

Hi Fran, terrible disease and wish you luck on your trek, Best wishes Kay (AUB)

£10

Emma Yeung

What a lovely thing to do, go Fran! All the best. From Emma and Charly

£10

Hazel

£6.56

Julie

Show more