At Fordway, the true heartbeat of our organisation is our people. We are incredibly proud of our team’s dedication, not just in delivering outstanding IT services, but in the intense passion and energy they bring to supporting their local communities.
To celebrate this incredible company spirit, we are thrilled to spotlight Ashley, an engineer here at Fordway, in our ongoing Charity Champions series.
Walking for a Cure: Ashley and Sammy’s Midnight Marathon
For Ashley, the fight against cancer is deeply personal. In September, on their very first wedding anniversary, his wife, Sami, was diagnosed with aggressive triple-negative breast cancer at just 32 years old.
“It was a bit wild. It was like our first-year anniversary gift almost. It turns your life upside down and takes the wind out of your sails.”
— Ashley & Sami
A Warrior’s Journey
What followed was a brutal medical gauntlet. Sami underwent rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy that took an immense toll on her immune system, resulting in severe sepsis four separate times. Following her initial treatments, Sami underwent major surgery. When serious complications further arose, doctors had to rush her into emergency surgery to save her life.
Through it all, Ashley became Sami’s full-time carer. He worked tirelessly to balance his shifts, working from home to cook, clean, and manage everything while spending weeks by her hospital bedside.
Finding Light and Community
Despite the unimaginable physical toll, Sami chose to face the battle with humour, positivity, and a collection of 12 vibrant, different-coloured wigs. She found an incredible community within the hospital’s chemotherapy suite, making fast friends with the nurses.
They also found a crucial lifeline through a companion charity that paired Sami with a volunteer named Nicole. Having a companion of a similar age to talk to and go on days out with provided vital mental health support when the journey felt lonely. Their three cats—Tiger Lily, Raven, and Jerry—also became a huge source of emotional support, with Raven staying glued to Sami’s side to nurse her through her hardest days. Sami used her 12 different-coloured wigs to bring fun, colour, and smiles to the hospital’s chemo suite!
The Midnight MoonWalk London
To raise awareness for how quickly triple-negative breast cancer can appear in young women, Ashley, Sami, and Sami’s mum, who pushed through the walk despite battling arthritis, signed up for The MoonWalk London. This iconic event sees thousands of walkers take to the streets of London in the middle of the night.
Starting at 11:00pm at Clapham Common, the trio walked through the night. Starting at the very front of the 6,000-person crowd alongside celebrities like Gabby Roslin.
As they walked, London’s historic landmarks, including Battersea Power Station, the Oxo Tower, and the bridges, were entirely lit up in vibrant pink.
After walking a total of 21 high-impact miles they crossed the finish line in five and a half hours, exhausted but proudly holding their medals. Before heading home, navigating another 2.5miles on foot between train stations with no sleep.
Overwhelming Generosity
When Ashley reached out to the team at Fordway, the response was instantaneous. Originally setting a personal fundraising goal of £500, Ashley raised £640 directly through the generosity of his Fordway colleagues. In total, their walking trio raised an incredible £1,800 for the charity.
Miracles and New Beginnings
Today, Sami is officially classified as having No Evidence of Disease (NED).
On top of this fantastic health update, they have successfully bought their first home and even better, despite being told by doctors that the treatments had destroyed her fertility, Ashley and Sami recently received the ultimate, wonderful news that they are expecting a baby. We wish them all the very best on this exciting next chapter.
Fordway’s Matched Funding Commitment
We know that when our team members step up to support causes close to their hearts, they pour their entire souls into their efforts. To support and encourage this incredible spirit of generosity, Fordway operates a matched funding programme.
For charitable fundraising undertaken by our employees, Fordway matches funds raised up to £250. This means the incredible efforts of our staff go twice as far in supporting the communities, charities, and medical causes that matter most.
Thank you, Ashley and Sami, for your breathtaking resilience and openness, and for being true Charity Champions! You make an absolute dream team.
