07/04/2026
You may have noticed I've not been very active on here for a while and those that know me are aware of things that have been going on personally.
In November 2024, just 7 months after our wedding, my husband fell ill. In January 2025, after lots of tests we got the worst news. He had cancer, it was already stage 4 and due to a rare mutation it was very aggressive, hard to treat and incurable. The best we could hope for was reduction and management. It was hard to take in that a 44 year old, otherwise healthy man was in this position. He was referred to a research trial and during safety tests, it was found the cancer had spread to his brain. He was then referred to another trial and started treatment in March 2025, which was a tablet form of chemo. It was going really well, until it wasn't. On 27 August 2025, Andy was off the trial and started intravenous chemo. He had 3 cycles and each one took it out of him for several days. Unfortunately, it didn't work and Andy started his last treatment option on 12 November 2025. There was a couple of blips but he seemed better and had more energy. At his chemo on Christmas Eve, he even dressed up to make the nurses smile. But by end of January 2026 he started to become breathless. At his pre-chemo bloods on 02 February 2026, for what would have been his fourth or fifth cycle, Andy was hospitalised. He had an infection, scans showed treatment wasn't working and doctors gave him 4 -6 months. He was released from hospital into palliative care at home on 17 February 2026. He passed away, just 2 days later with myself and his parents by his side. 30 days before his 46th birthday.
There is a tribute page to Andy and I will update it over the coming days with Andy's cancer journey and to spread awareness of the mutation. www.Andrew-Betteridge.muchloved.com.
There is also this link for fundraising https://gofund.me/f205c76f2
A fellow equestrian that knew Andy though work, has reached out to me in order to fund raise in Andy's memory. So watch this space.
From my own business perspective, it has made me reassess my priorities. As such, I gave notice to my lovely full liveries in November and cut back on services I offer to DIYs. I was exhausted and at breaking point more times than I care to remember. In fact the whole of 2025 is a bit hazy.
I'm still in the early days of grieving but I feel better for spring arriving and getting back into a routine. A former client with two ponies has arrived on DIY and is settling in well. I will have a DIY space for a 13hh to 15.2hh gelding coming available in the next couple of months but do have a waiting list. I will be reaching out to those on the list to provide further details in order I can assess their application for suitability before arranging viewings.
I suppose the main reason for this post is to show the importance of getting checked out if you don't feel quite right and always showing kindness to people, as you never know what they are dealing with.
