A fundraising South Wales Police Federation member has heaped praise on the support received from her colleagues when her mum was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.

 

Serian Grenfall has shared her experience to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which falls annually every October.

 

Alongside a group of colleagues, PC Serian founded the ‘Bra Car’ team – a nod to a term used by some in the police force for two or more female officers on duty together – in 2019 as they aimed to raise money for breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.

 

The officers had rallied around Serian after her late mother, Sue, was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer earlier that year.

 

As a team, they took on Walk the Walk’s Moonwalk event, a night-time, London-based marathon or half-marathon designed to be completed at walking pace.

 

 

 

Together with funds generated from activities such as raffles and badge and cake sales at South Wales Police offices, the group raised over £12,000 in this first year to much adulation, including a segment on ITV Cymru Wales’ evening news programme.

 

“For many reasons, it was an incredibly emotional time,” said Serian.

 

“We all worked in response together, all the girls who founded the team. And despite some of us drifting into different roles since then, we have remained close friends.

“They were already lovely friends to me before, but when they found out about my mum, their support was there straight away, and it was just breathtaking.

 

“The success of what we did – the Moonwalk, the money raised, the news segment – really touched me in a very difficult period.”

 

Sue had been treated for cancer three times before her final diagnosis, having had breast cancer once and skin cancer twice.

 

She died at the age of 71 in November 2019 after time at Holme Tower, a Marie Curie hospice in Penarth.

 

“My mum was an amazing person, and I miss her every day,” Serian continued.

 

“Obviously, it hit me hard, but I had to be there for my kids, too, who were exceptionally close to her. I had five months’ compassionate leave.

 

“I must say, the Force were brilliant with me – they checked in regularly and didn’t put any pressure to get me back into work before I was ready. I couldn’t fault them, to be honest.

 

The 52-year-old, who currently works on response in Pontypridd, remains an integral part of the ‘Bra Car’ team to this day.

Amid a handful of departures and additions, the group now have eight members – Serian, team captain Alima Beynon, chief of fundraising Sally Lloyd, the first male member in Chris Knight, plus Rebecca Southway, Stacey Evans and Claire Beddoe – raising another £2,240 on top of their initial achievements in 2019.

 

They have taken on two further Moonwalks in 2023 and 2024, and have set their sights on Cancer Research’s five-kilometre obstacle course, Pretty Mudder, in 2025.

 

Not only representing a new challenge, the event will also mark a departure from the team’s central fundraising cause.

 

On Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Serian underlined the significance of the illness to the group, while also highlighting the importance of attention towards all types of cancer.

 

“When it comes to cancer in general, everyone will know someone who has been affected – I know that as much as it [fundraising] all started off around my mum, everyone in the team had their individual reasons, too. We are all looking forward to raising money for Cancer Research next year,” she continued.

 

“And while fundraising is important to us, so is awareness.

 

“I would like to remind Federation members that we have to be switched on to cancer – it can be the difference between life and death. We should try to make checking our bodies part of our daily routine.”

 

With ambitions set out for the future, Serian says the memory of her mother will always live on through the group’s activity.

 

“The team is still there for me, five years later. They’ve helped me make sure my mum will never be forgotten and in return, I will never forget that,” she said. 

 

“I will never stop being grateful for how much time and energy they have given to remember my mum, help me grieve and do something amazing in her honour.

 

“I couldn’t have asked for better friends.”