Widower pledges to continue late wife's mission

By the time Sarbjit Budesha was diagnosed, she had stage-four ovarian cancer

A widower has pledged to continue his late wife's mission to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Mum-of-two Sarbjit Budesha, from Walsall, was told she had just a handful of months to live after being diagnosed with stage-four cancer in 2020. She passed away three years later aged 47.

In her journals, discovered after her death, she described how her symptoms had been initially dismissed by GPs due to her age.

However, after her diagnosis, she pledged to raise awareness and had leaflets translated into Punjabi.

Her husband Shan Budesha said: "Men often don’t talk about women’s problems. However, I plan to continue Sarb’s legacy to raise awareness for all women across all communities."

He is taking part in a half-marathon in Manchester on Sunday to raise money for the Ovacome ovarian cancer charity, which supported his wife.

"We’re hoping with what we can raise, we can help people who are struggling with the condition," he said.

Her husband Shan Budesha is urging women to speak up if they notice symptoms they are concerned about

"We never really spoke about women's health issues," Mr Budesha, an insurance broker, recalled.

Mrs Budesha, known to friends as Sarb, first encountered problems at Christmas 2019, when she experienced extreme bloating and fatigue.

In early 2020, doctors drained more than six litres (10.5 pints) of fluid from her abdomen, but she was still unaware of the condition she was living with.

Later that year she was told it was stage-four ovarian cancer and would "never go away".

After seeking private healthcare, she underwent a full hysterectomy, alongside multiple rounds of chemotherapy.

Following her diagnosis Mrs Budesha underwent numerous rounds of chemotherapy

Mr Budesha said: "She faced side effects like hair loss, nausea, and severe organ pain, yet she showed remarkable resilience and courage throughout it all.

"Despite the setbacks, she fought with unwavering determination, refusing to let the disease define her spirit. Her strength during those years is something I will always admire and hold close to my heart."

The true struggle of what she had been going through came to light after Mrs Budesha's death as her journal entries were discovered.

Among her belongings, in her handbag were leaflets detailing the symptoms of ovarian cancer and guidance on where women can go for help. They had been translated into Punjabi.

However, she died before achieving her goal of visiting Sikh temples to raise awareness about the condition.

Her family have raised £6,500 ahead of the half-marathon charity

Her family have now picked up the mantle and are distributing leaflets at local temples.

Mr Budesha added: "This run is more than just a personal challenge - it's a way to honour her legacy and help raise awareness of ovarian cancer, a disease that takes too many too soon."

The charity is encouraging women to be aware of the so-called BEAT symptoms connected with the condition:

• B for bloating that doesn't come and go

• E for eating difficulty and feeling full more quickly

• A for abdominal and pelvic pain you feel most days

• T for toilet changes in urination or bowel habits