Hi, As many of you are probably aware, I have been battling against Breast & Lymph cancer since early 2005. Having initially responded well to treatment, I have recently been advised by my oncologist from The Christie's that this horrible disease has now spread to my stomach, and possibly my spine too. I cannot be cured but am going to have a good go at keeping it at bay for as long as I can. Last time it was a whirlwind of surgery, chemotherapy for 9 months & daily radiotherapy for 6 weeks, then daily medication. This time, I started tablets immediately, which will be followed by chemo & radium. So, I am busy arranging a fundraising event....hubby Mike is to shave my head on the 23 December in our local, The Shroppie Fly at Audlem, Cheshire, which should make the Xmas photos interesting! A friend who lost her husband to this dreadful disease 5 years ago is having hers done too at another venue. All funds raised will be sent to Cancer Research (Breast Cancer).

I have now planted the flower baskets on my bird feeder at the marina, and our Xmas tree is planted into the half-barrel. Many early and late flowering spring bulbs have been put in with the pansies, violas & foliage. I am determined to still be here to see them come up! This year, we have opted for a rootball Xmas tree, so that, once all the festivities are over, my tree is to be planted so that it can grow....an incentive for me to be here in Xmas 2012.

I have to say that my husband, Mike, is my best friend, soul mate & true "rock" , who has been with me & supported me through my last ordeal. Now, he is also facing the trauma, knowing that my cancer has returned. He remains the absolute star that he is, & continues, knowing that this time he can't make me better.

I also should mention that our children, Sarah & James, have been the most supporting and wonderful kids you could ever imagine to have, as they were relatively 'young' when I was first diagnosed but dealt with that, which was so tough for them. But now that my Cancer has returned, only six years later, it's like a double whammy for them, which is so unfair!

Once again, they are both being totally supportive, which is so commendable.

Well, I've passed my first goal and seen all the beautiful spring bulbs come up, together with some tremendous freak weather, which, although this appears horrendous to many of us, to me it's a 'pleasure' to listen to the wind & rain on the top of the boat....takes me back to camping days, and possibly a sound that many of us can recall from our youth!

So, I've decided to remain positive as much as I can, and set myself targets every so often, our Grandson Callum is 4 in May, Race for Life events in June where many very kind friends are running for me, July, my Mike's birthday in July etc, & so on....summer bedding plants, my 60th in October, when I'm hoping that I shall be well enough to have a very big party at our special local, The Shroppie Fly, again thanks to our lovely friends who run the pub, Kate & Andy. Although I know that my cancer is incurable, I am determined to carry on with as much chemo, radium and medication that my Consultant wishes to subject me to, no matter how dire the side effects are, and I am equally determined to beat this cancer if I possibly can.

How can I not try, when friends and fundraisers have been so generous and kind. The Head Shave was the first of three fundraising events, as mentioned above on 23 December, 2011, when £1,595 was raised. Then 11 year old Laura Saint, daughter of super friends Linda & David, instigated & arranged a Year 7 disco at her school on 11 February, 2012, raising a further £375. Amazing for such young people! The next event was a charity event at Rainhill Sports Club, organised by brilliant friends John & Diane Gilbert & Neil & Denise Thompson, who worked tirelessly before the event held on 9th March, 2012, despite all having their own family & work commitments. Their enthusism was paramount in making the event a huge success, with the club being provided free of charge, all staff & entertainers working for nothing with their wages & fees being donated to the fund. The result was a staggering profit of £2,071.66! Mike & I did actually win the first prize in the raffle, a 32" flat screed HD/DVD plasma TV...but obviously we requested that it should be redrawn!

Well. since then we have had tremendous support for my fundraising. blessed by the intravention of wonderful friends..Ian Hallett, Bob & Jess Yarwood, from Audlem who organised the Audlem Fancy Dress event on 4 August for my fund.What a huge success & brilliant night that was!! Funds raised was over £2,500 & more to come as we didn't manage to finish the superb 'grid raffle' which is now ongoing.Since than I have seen bedding plants flourish, music , transport, & beer festivals come & go which were brilliant, & then was the planning for ny 60th!

A day & party that I didn't think I would ever make...but determination & positive power of the mind has prevailed & I did make it...shared the celebration with CR UK breast cancer & have now raised in the region of £550 which brings my fund  just short of £10,300.

Well, what can I say, I am a very little lady in a very small community but with a big lifetime history resulting in the most unbelievable lifetime friends who have totally amazed both Mike & I with their ongoing support & generosity, which has resulted in this overwhelming fund total to date.

It's like De ja vu...this time last year I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in my stomach & thought I would not last much longer, so set goals.I have passed them, despite the stomach cancer worsening & even spreading further to my bones in August. We are now here, a year later & still fighting which proves that positive thinking & power of the mind hopefully can be stronger than Cancer!

I have now planted spring flowering bulbs 2012 & await 1 December when I can decorate our outside rootballed Xmas tree which will carry me through to the New Year...& 2013...a time that I will strive to fight & live to be here to see the snowdrops, Red Riding tulips & Narcissi flower...I look on that as my next "vocation" to be here for the summer. We have now "expanded" & planted winter flowering pansies in the bird feeder baskets & hanging baskets & started to build a rockery where we can plant alpines, bulbs, & later aubretia & other seeds that will cascade down the rocks. I WILL be here to see them & potter around our special "garden" mooring that we both get so much pleasure tending. 

 Never will I give up fighting Cancer!  If I become despondent, I listen to Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush's song "Don't Give Up". That is true inspiration to me.

God Bless everyone who has donated to help eradicate this horrid disease.

Mike & I are truly overwhelmed by all fundraising events and everyone involved, and of course, everyone who has so generously & unselfishly donated to my fund online too. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and your kindness will never be forgotten.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. 

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So please dig deep and donate now. Thank you, Chrissie.