THERE ARE TWO MEDICAL CONDITIONS (DISABILITIES) THAT I WANT TO RAISE GREATER AWARENESS OF. AS WELL AS FUNDS TO ASSIST CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS TO CONTINUE TO CAMPAIGN; RESEARCH; & SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED ........ PLEASE READ ON...

DEPRESSION ............ is a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression. Whilst depression is not the only mental ill health condition, it is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide.

In the UK, 1 in 5 individuals will be diagnosed with depression in their lifetime.

Suicide and self harm are not perceived to be mental health problems themselves, but they are linked with mental distress.

Between 2003 and 2013 18,200 people in the UK with mental health problems took their own life. In the UK 1 in 15 individuals had made a suicide attempt at some point in their life.

BOWEL CANCER ............. is the fourth most common cancer after Breast; Prostrate; and Lung.

Every 15 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with bowel cancer, that's over 41,000 people EVERY YEAR.

Nine out of ten new cases (94%) are diagnosed in people over the age of 50. Bowel 'screening' is offered every two years to individuals from age 60 (50 in Scotland). This is NOT ENOUGH. More than 2,400 people under 50 are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK every year.

Around 268,000 people living in the UK TODAY have been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

More NEEDS to be done to RAISE GREATER AWARENESS, to ensure GP REFERRALS and relevant TESTS are conducted and completed TIMEOUSLY.

The NHS posters state:

" 9 out of 10 People Beat Bowel Cancer When It's Found Early".

MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ENSURE EARLY DIAGNOSIS!

From my own experience, and experiences of others close to me, I know MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE! On 7th June 2017 I was advised that following examination of the biopsy taken on 28th May 2017 it was confirmed I had a malignant cancerous tumour in my colon.

It has subsequently been confirmed that I have Stage 4 Bowel Cancer.

In the UK - Every THIRTY MINUTES someone dies from Bowel Cancer .....

This is WHY I WANT TO: CAMPAIGN to RAISE GREATER AWARENESS ......

RAISE FUNDS to donate to the charities and organisations to continue their RESEARCH and RAISE AWARENESS; to provide SUPPORT; to CAMPAIGN for MORE EFFICIENT and EFFECTIVE REFERRALS and TESTS to be conducted .......

I'm a stubborn, defiant individual who has managed anxiety and depression for years. A suicide survivor of 38 years, who is determined to beat and survive this cancer. Determined to help others who have mental ill health, or who have cancer. Determined to help in any way I can ....

I can't do that on my own ..... I need support ..... I need help to raise funds ..... So I have set myself the first of hopefully, many challenges.

On Saturday 2nd September I will be walking across the new Queensferry Crossing ..

A CHALLENGE it IS .... I don't do heights! I don't particularly enjoy crossing the FRB by car. So WALK!! ?? !! 🤔😖 Its no mean feet (feat)

A CHALLENGE it IS ....... I had major abdominal surgery on 5th July - Recovery still in progress.

Please sponsor me .... Or make a donation. No amount is too little.

Thank you for taking the time to read the above, please also take time to read the informstion available on the websites. I will be writing more to raise awareness ...... so watch this Space!!

Thank you for your contribution. It's greatly appreciated.

Links to the websites that contain the statistical information above and more:

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-health-statistics-uk-and-worldwide

https://www.samaritans.org/sites/default/files/kcfinder/files/Suicide_statistics_report_2017_Final%282%29.pdf

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/

Thanks again. Have A Happy Day!

Dawn x