From hirsute to hairless.... why have we chosen to lose our locks?

The statistics speak for themselves.  1 in 3 of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our life.  At 41, I became one of those one in three.  Diagnosed with endometrial cancer in October 2007, I had a hysterectomy in November and am currently undergoing chemotherapy.  Being a statistic can feel very lonely sometimes (especially when there is no national organisation for endometrial cancer, a disease which usually affects women aged 50 to 70) but I've got a great team of people fighting with me.

The staff at Kirkwood Hospice are part of that team.  I contacted them without really knowing what support they could offer but within a couple of weeks I had an appointment with a counsellor from the Family Care Team.  What a huge relief to speak to someone who just 'knows' what it means to be diagnosed with this disease and who isn't afraid to help me face the issues that it raises.

Kirkwood Hospice is a gentle place surrounded by beautiful gardens and every time I visit I feel calm.  It offers a range of support to people affected by life-threatening illnesses and to their relatives from art therapy, aromatherapy and counselling to respite and palliative care (you can find out more about what they do by clicking here).  However, they need to raise £2.7 million this year alone to continue to do what they do.  From a purely selfish point of view, I want to help them get there!

I decided when I started chemotherapy that I would raise funds for the hospice by shaving my hair off before it all dropped out.  Giles also agreed to join in with the fun (perhaps it's a trial run for when the inevitable finally happens?!).

Now for the standard blurb... "Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure.  It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Kirkwood Hospice will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you."  Having picked the coldest time of the year in one of the windiest parts of the country, we hope you will give generously!

Thank you!  Juliet and Giles