We all agreed to do this ride to support everyone who has been diagnosed, knows anyone who has been diagnosed or lost someone to this dreadful disease. 

Just in this small group we have 2 very current and emotional stories. Please read them and please support them by giving to Macmillan.

Steph Barth's Story

It is very personal to me currently (DBx) as I have just found out that Steph, our very first Au Pair, has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. She joined our family when the boys were only 6 an 4, at the ripe old age of 18 and it was clear very quickly she would be a very special and close part of our family for ever. She has come back to visit us every year (sometimes twice a year) and we have followed her many adventures, as she has matured into a beautiful young woman.

The diagnosis has been a shock to everyone, although she is currently undergoing a fierce course of Chemo and will have to have a mastectomy..in true Steph style it  has made her even more positive about life and she is looking forward to meeting her nephew into the world this year and is looking forward to getting me out to Germany for the first time!

So please donate what you can to help the charity that supports people like Steph, who are so young and at this stage of their lives, should not have a care in the world.

Carla Reeder's Story

Feb 2018, life changed for Carla, following a very boozy night with friends in Aberdeen, Carla felt a lump. Still to this day Carla is not sure why she felt for the lump, perhaps something to do with distracting herself from the pounding hangover creeping in?

As Woman, you are told to trust your instincts and Carla knew this was serious. A few days later, after scans & tests, Carla was told that they thought it was Cancer. The following week this was confirmed as Breast Cancer, with surgery scheduled over the following days.

32 years old is way too young? right?

"But I've got kids" was the 1st thing Carla said... we all know Cancer does not discriminate.

The next few weeks were a constant flow of tests, hospital visits & appointments with the news not getting any better, but Carla and the family put full faith in the medical teams.

In between all this Carla had just started a new job with Vitality, it was only 4 weeks in, although work is tunring out to be a welcome distraction!

"Without a doubt 24 weeks of chemo has been the toughest most gruelling thing I believe I will ever go through, but I am here, and I've nearly done it!"

There is still a long way to go for Carla, major surgery scheduled at the end of September 2018, followed by Radio therapy....the treatment plan pretty much takes up the whole of 2018.

"I feel lucky to have the strong support of family and friends around me, without them this journey would be impossible. I would have given up without a doubt, my husband keeps me positive, along with my 2 girls who are also coping incredibly well. I thought it was difficult to digest the word "CANCER" but for them, as children, it is so much harder."

"It's hard for us too as the diagnosis was Triple Negative Breast Cancer, which is one of the rarest most aggressive forms of Breast Cancer. This means more research is being done to save the masses but more money needs to be raised to do more research to save the minority like me, why is my life worth less??

I know many strong woman are fighting for this!

"I'm not sure I will ever be able to go back to the old me before Cancer, I look at pictures and don't even recognise myself. Visually it will take time & I will get there but on the inside I have changed. I will forever be thankful and so grateful to the nurses who have sat by me through every chemo session and looked after me when the chemo really made me ill. I could not have asked for better nurses and getting to know them has now made me some new lifelong friends. I am also grateful to the people who have been by my side all the way and the ones who are just checking in on me every now and then through messages. 

I will no longer care if it is raining, if someone's driving ridiculously slow or if I have a minor inconvenience, I will just be thinking each day is an extra day I am lucky to be alive.. in that respect I have definitely changed!"

"Staying positive and carry on always"

Thanks, Jamie, Dave and Donna