Walking in memory of beloved mum 20 years after losing her to kidney disease
This July, 59-year-old Rachelle Temple will take part in the Kidney Research UK London Bridges Walk for the 19th time, in memory of her mum, Betty, who died 20 years ago from kidney disease.
Rachelle, from Hockley in Essex, will be joined by several family members, including her daughters, Nicole and Jessica. She says: “They were only ten and eight when Mum died. Her grandchildren were her life and she couldn’t have loved them more if she tried. I never wanted them to forget their nanny, so we started taking part in the London Bridges Walk together in 2008.
“It's such an enjoyable experience. It feels like one big family, full of support, friendship and love. Everyone becomes your friend for the day. As you approach the finish line, you're exhausted, but people who’ve already completed the walk stay behind to cheer others on. You see people from all walks of life clapping, encouraging and talking to one another. It's incredibly special.”
Kidney Research UK’s London Bridges Walk will take place on Saturday 4 July, starting at 10am from Potter’s Field Park. Anybody can join, taking on either the shorter 2-mile accessible route, or the longer 7-mile walk.
Remembering Betty
Betty contracted tuberculosis at just four years old, causing irreversible damage to her kidneys. Rachelle remembers as a child, seeing her mum’s kidneys failing.
She says: “I would come home and find her in bed, exhausted. My friends would often stay and help me clean the house because she was so unwell. She was in and out of hospital continuously and it was incredibly hard to watch her suffer.
“She was also taking blood-thinning medication for systemic lupus, which meant she couldn't have a kidney transplant because the risks were too great. Her only option was dialysis. At first she had peritoneal dialysis at home. However, as her kidney disease progressed, she eventually had to travel to Southend Hospital for haemodialysis three times a week, for five hours at a time.
“My mum, Betty, was an amazing human being. Everyone loved her. She had so many friends and when she walked into a room, you knew she was there before you saw her. She had a big personality and an even bigger heart.
“People on dialysis often feel very cold, so Mum came up with the idea of making blankets and started knitting colourful squares. She rallied everyone around her to join in – even I knitted a few. One of her friends helped sew the squares together and before long there were hand-knitted blankets for patients on the renal ward.”
Sadly, Betty died in 2006 at just 63 years old. Rachelle says: “In the end, Mum refused further dialysis treatment because she simply couldn't face it anymore. She was taken from us far too young. I was absolutely grief-stricken.
“Some of the doctors and nurses who cared for her came to her funeral. They even named the room where she received treatment after her. To this day, it’s still known as the Betty DeRose Room. She had a lasting impact on everyone she met.”
Joining the London Bridges Walk
Rachelle and her daughters first joined the London Bridges Walk in 2008, continuing to take part every year since.
Rachelle says: “I remember back then we were given helium baloons, which we released together from Millennium Bridge. My girls would write messages saying, "To Nanny Bet Bet. We love you and will never forget you.” The walk has become an annual tradition for us.
“Even during the pandemic, when large charity events were cancelled, I rallied friends together to organise our own socially-distanced walk in Southend for Kidney Research UK. We all wore purple and raised £250. It was so important to me to keep that connection going.
“This year will be our 19th London Bridges Walk in memory of Mum. I feel fortunate that she lived long enough to know her grandchildren, but being part of #TeamKidney has also opened my eyes to the experiences of so many other families affected by kidney disease.
“There are people taking part who have lost children, parents, friends and partners. Stories like that stay with you. You realise just how much other people have endured and how many lives have been touched by kidney disease.
“Over the years, different friends and family members have joined us for the walk in memory of their own loved ones. My cousin Beverley, who lost her three-year-old granddaughter to polycystic kidney disease, and my friend Sharon, whose brother died from kidney cancer on his 50th birthday. There is so much shared loss, but that's what makes the day so special. It's a chance to honour people who were taken far too soon and ensure they’re never forgotten.
“I know crossing the finish line will be both emotional and rewarding. I always have a little cry when I look at my girls and think about Mum. I hope she would be proud of us. By taking part year after year, we're making sure her memory never fades."
London Bridges Walk
Whether you’re walking in memory of a loved one, celebrating a kidneyversary or supporting someone living with kidney disease, join #TeamKidney at this year’s London Bridges Walk.