Hi all!
Thanks for popping by.
I have decided to do a Saharan trek from 10th to 18th March next year in aid of the B.R.A. (Breast Reconstruction Awareness) team, based in the St Andrews Centre at Broomfield Hospital.
I realise that my fund raising target is huge so I wanted to take part in an event that makes you all feel like your donations will be well earned. Those of you who know me well will know how I get on with both hot weather and camping so you will realise just what a massive challenge this trek will be for me.
For those of you unfamiliar with the B.R.A. team, they work with women who are facing or have undergone potentially life saving breast surgery and then reconstruction either immediately post surgery or some years later.
Those of you who have either had mastectomies or know someone who has will realise what a massive impact it can have on the life of not only the person themselves but also their friends and family.
The team at B.R.A. provide what I feel is a vital service both pre-op and post op for women and their loved ones. They help guide them through not only the medical & physical aspects of all the options available but also the emotional, mental & psychological impact of the surgery.
For some women reconstruction can make the difference to them getting their lives back after mastectomies and the B.R.A. team provide the information & support women need to make those life changing decisions. They arrange meetings, information evenings and support groups and I can personally vouch for the contribution they make to women going through the process. Their support isn't confined to the time a person is in hospital and, certainly in my case, has lasted nearly 2 years so far. The team has always been there for me and has made a huge difference to me and my family.
In addition to the support they provide, their previous fund raising has also helped equip the HDU's (High Dependency Units) in Stock Ward. Having spent a week in the HDU last year I can vouch for the difference the equipment makes.
Although the link for my fundraising is generically 'Mid Essex Hospital' I can guarantee that all donations made via this Just Giving page will go directly to the B.R.A. charity.
Also, I just wanted to reassure you that none of your donations go on admin/travel expenses for my trek. The intial fee has come out of my own money and all donations are passed to the charity.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
I really do appreciate all of your donations and you can be sure that whatever you give will make a difference.
Thanks so much x
