Braintree Aquathon for Marie Curie in memory of woman

Karen Stokoe, from Braintree, grew up very active in an athletic family, with a mother who was a dancer and a father who was a cyclist, and a brother who would later run a marathon in her memory.

Karen was a runner herself, and in 2005, she completed a marathon.

But just four months later, she collapsed in London where she was working, and a year later, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer with a tumour in her brain.

In 2009, she was told she had three months to live and underwent chemotherapy, which eventually left her unable to run or be as active.

Runner - Karen pictured after completing the 2011 'Race for Life' Cancer Research event (Image: Lynn Stokoe) So, she joined Sasha’s Aqua Aerobic class and a Pilates class in Braintree Swimming and Fitness Centre, where she made new friends and exercised in the water.

Lynn Stokoe, 73, Karen’s mother, said: “She wasn’t one for sitting indoors unless she had to—but that’s the type of girl she was.

“Even when she was battling cancer, whenever she could, she still wanted to run and exercise.”

Despite her prognosis, Karen lived for another eight years before she passed away at 39 years old on April 15, 2017.

Memory - Karen Stokoe (left) with her mother Lynn (right), who remembers her daughter and helps at the annual Aquathon (Image: Lynn Stokoe) Lynn said of her daughter: “I strongly believe she went on because of her determination to fight it for as long as she could.

“She just wouldn’t give up, so I really admire her for that.

“I don’t know how she did it—but she did.”

Lynn said the aqua aerobic classes and Karen’s friendship with teacher Sarah Windibank was “what Karen needed.”

Sarah’s classes also entered in the annual worldwide Aquathon, which in its first year saw 42 countries take part, and which Karen participated in for several years.

When Karen’s health deteriorated and she could no longer go in the water, she helped out at the Aquathon’s charity raffle.

Raffle - The Aquathon and raffle is raising funds for Marie Curie (Image: Lynn Stokoe) For the worldwide 12th year of the Aquathon, Sarah has decided her class will fundraise for Marie Curie in Karen’s memory at Braintree Swimming and Fitness Centre.

Lynn said: “When you come to the end of a life, Marie Curie are the most wonderful people.

“They are trained for that, and they were absolutely lovely to Karen. It just made her passing a lot easier.”

Daniella Brant, Miss Intercontinental England, will be opening the Aquathon on Saturday.

Lynn will be posted in the lobby selling raffle tickets throughout the day and on some evenings during the week to help with the fundraising.

She said: “I just feel Karen would’ve wanted to help, so I’ve got to take her place and do it.

“I feel I owe it to Karen, and to Sarah who took Karen under her wing, and to anybody else who is interested to help with this event.”

Brave - Karen "just wouldn't give up." (Image: Lynn Stokoe) The Aquathon will run from 12pm-3pm on Saturday, November 9.

Fitness experts Sarah, Fiona and Colleen will lead the session through deep aqua, aqua Zumba, aqua jog, aqua mix and fun and games, with a raffle being drawn at 3pm.

To join in, visit the pool on either Wednesday evening between 6.45pm and 7.15pm or Friday morning between 8.30am and 9am and give a £15 donation for Marie Curie.