The book, Can’t Play Twister, turns Julie Gyi’s personal writing into a posthumous debut, fulfilling her lifelong ambition to become an author.
Julie, from Cleveleys, who owned the popular Ceragem UK centre on Church Street in Preston, died in 2017 at 59 years old, after being diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer which affects around one per cent of cancer patients.
Over two years, she used her blog to raise awareness about the disease while candidly documenting her experiences.
Read more: Preston dad-of-four shares life transformation after heart attack
Julie opened Ceragem UK in 2008, a Preston-based business dedicated to helping people across the North West improve their health and wellbeing through automatic massage bed therapy.
Karen Martyniuk, a former staff member and customer at Ceragem UK said “Julie Gyi was one of the nicest, most heart-centred, caring, compassionate, loving people I have ever met”
“It was Julie’s inspiration that brought Ceragem to the UK, and for over 9 years she dedicated her life to helping hundreds, and thousands of people, to improve their health, not just from Preston and the North West, but from all across the country.”
A former English teacher, Julie was known for her sharp sense of humour and resilience, qualities which remain central to the book.
Even after losing a leg to the disease, she continued to raise awareness and approach life with humour, with the book’s title coming from a joke she once made about no longer being able to play the popular party game Twister.
Unlike many traditional cancer memoirs, Julie’s writing avoids empty optimism. Her tone is warm and often funny, but also frank in its descriptions of pain, fear, and the day-to-day reality of living with a rare illness.
Julie’s rare sarcoma was diagnosed in January 2016 after she noticed a lump on her leg. After surgery to remove the primary tumour, she was given the all clear at her first check-up. But three months later, a lump had appeared at the back of her knee.
Tests found it was malignant and had spread. The cancer was resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and the only possible treatment was not available on the NHS. She travelled to Germany for dendritic cell therapy but in the end to no avail.
Despite having her leg amputated, Julie was spurred on by public support and started writing a candid blog about her ordeal. She learned to walk on a prosthetic and was able to walk and dance at her eldest son’s wedding.
After a second trip for treatment in Germany, her health declined rapidly and she died at Trinity Hospice on 13 September 2017.
In her blog, Julie wrote: “Since my boys have started fundraising for my treatment, I’ve been blown away by the generosity and well wishes of so many people.
“When people come together it makes my heart sing.
“I’ve cried most days reading the support and well wishes of people I know, and people I don’t know, who are all so supportive in their love and hope for the next stage of my journey.”
Mum of three Julie’s youngest son, Mike Gyi, compiled and completed the manuscript, describing the project as a final act of love.
“Mum always dreamed of being an author, and her writing is honest, funny and deeply moving,” said Mike.
“Publishing her book has been my way of fulfilling that dream and sharing the message she cared about so much – ‘check your lumps and bumps.’”
Her other son, Dan, said: “Mum was incredibly brave and optimistic throughout the many downs and false horizons of her protracted struggle with sarcoma.
“She often described the pain as torturous and unfair, yet somehow managed to remain upbeat, hilarious, and incredibly thoughtful.
“Mum was fiercely competitive, lit up every room with her humour, and had a lust for adventure and new experiences. We miss her deeply, and hope that her writing can provide inspiration, comedic relief, and comfort to others.”
During her illness, Julie raised around £35,000 through local fundraising efforts. All proceeds from the book will go to sarcoma-related charities through the newly established Julie Gyi Foundation, with the primary beneficiary being Sarcoma UK.
The book is available to buy now on the Cant Play Twister website, with the first copies being printed in October.
Subscribe: Keep in touch directly with the latest headlines from Blog Preston, join our WhatsApp channel and subscribe for our twice-a-week email newsletter. Both free and direct to your phone and inbox.
Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines
