"I’m walking for more genetic screening in Yorkshire because of the life-saving difference it can make in preventing and detecting cancer early.” – Jayne’s experience

Each year, 35,000 people in Yorkshire are told they have cancer.  This year, through its 2026 “We Walk for Yorkshire” campaign, Yorkshire Cancer Research is encouraging people across the region to collectively walk 35,000 miles in May and help fund life-saving cancer research in Yorkshire.

Last year, Jayne Hussey, 53, from Hull was one of hundreds of people who stepped out into Yorkshire’s great outdoors to help bring pioneering cancer research to people in her region.  

She joined her colleagues at Smailes Goldie in a friendly workplace competition for We Walk for Yorkshire to see who could walk the furthest. Jayne went above and beyond, walking 110 miles across May – the equivalent of walking from Hull to Leeds and back. 

We Walk for Yorkshire provides an opportunity for people to boost their wellbeing by getting outdoors and exploring the beautiful Yorkshire region while fundraising along the way. Whether it’s one big hike in the countryside or multiple walks around the local town centre, every step counts and every pound raised will help save lives in Yorkshire.  

Taking part in We Walk for Yorkshire helped Jayne and her team build lasting healthy habits, with lunchtime walks becoming a regular way to step away from their desks, enjoy fresh air and support their wellbeing. This year, they’re excited to take on the challenge again. 

Alongside the friendly competition, Jayne is personally motivated to help Yorkshire Cancer Research find new ways to prevent and detect cancer earlier. Both her mum and her grandma were diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age.

Sadly, Jayne’s grandma died from breast cancer at just 44 and it became a worrying time when her mum was later diagnosed as well.  

Jayne said: “I remember how scared we were when Mum was diagnosed. We couldn’t help thinking about how young Grandma was when she passed away and we were terrified history would repeat itself with Mum too.”  

Thankfully, her mum’s cancer was found early, meaning she could be successfully treated. She has now been cancer-free for 20 years.  

Due to her family history, Jayne asked her doctor whether she could have a genetic test to see whether she carried an inherited genetic change that would increase her risk of developing breast cancer. At the time, she was only offered a standard genealogy test, which does not test for specific gene variants such as faulty BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes that are linked to cancer.  

Jayne’s doctor advised she had a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer based on her family history and she should take proactive steps to protect her health. Since then, she has attended annual mammograms and regularly checks her body for cancer symptoms. 

One in every 20 cancers in women are caused by faulty genes. In Yorkshire, more than 8,000 breast, bowel, womb and ovarian cancers are diagnosed each year, and up to 881 of these are related to faulty genes.

It is estimated that 19,400 women in Yorkshire have genetic changes, however, an estimated 97% of these women remain unidentified – meaning nearly 18,800 do not know they are at increased risk of developing cancer.

Before taking part in We Walk for Yorkshire, Jayne knew little about Yorkshire Cancer Research but fundraising for the charity opened her eyes to the impact of the pioneering research it funds. This includes PROTECT-C, a ground-breaking genetic cancer screening study funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, that will offer testing to thousands of women in Yorkshire to see whether they are carriers of a faulty gene t  risk of breast, ovary, bowel and womb cancer.  

Led by Professor Ranjit Manchanda at Queen Mary University of London, the trial aims to save lives by helping women who have previously not undergone genetic testing find out if they are at higher risk of cancer. Those identified as being at increased risk will have the option through the NHS to have regular screening so that if they develop cancer, they are diagnosed at the earliest possible stage when the cancer is usually easier to treat. They will also have the opportunity to access risk-reducing medicine or surgery to help prevent cancers developing. 

Jayne said: "It’s amazing to hear Yorkshire Cancer Research is funding a trial that will give women across our region a chance to find out if they are at higher risk of cancer. Giving women that knowledge and power to make decisions about their health is incredible. I will personally be looking into the PROTECT-C trial to see if it is something I can get involved in!” 

When asked about what she’ll be walking for this May, Jayne said: