Well where do I start!!! I turned 50 February 2018 and few months later I received my letter to go for my FIRST routine Mammogram at The Mobile breast screening unit at Bluewater. Pretty straight forward my Mum said so I went along on 17th May 2018 and all went smoothly and all very professional. I then went away a few days later with 3 good friends to Zante for a week to celebrate my 50th. Upon my return I left it a few days and opened up my holiday post and discovered I had been recalled for follow up tests  at Medway Hospital 3 days later. I went along and was told very clearly before I had my biopsy that I def had breast cancer! Wow those few days were a whirlwind! I then had consultants appt on 12th June and was told I had stage 3 invasive ductal breast cancer so had lumpectomy on 26th June and 7 weeks of radiotherapy starting mid August.

I went back to work in November 2018 as a Nhs One You Lifestyle and well-being adviser. I have to motivate my clients/patients all day long but found it so difficult to motivate myself so I found the ‘Moving Forward’ group that was running at Medway Hospital. It was there that I was told about TEAM PHOENIX! Just what I needed. 

Unfortunately I couldn’t join the 2019 ladies and then Covid stopped 2020 and so it’s 3rd time lucky for me to join the 2021 TEAM!! 🙌🙌

And  since I started training 4 weeks ago I’ve met the fabulous  bunch of ladies from the Team Phoenix Foundation - a charity set up to support Breast Cancer women mentally, physically and emotionally. It's a support group with a difference that's for sure! 

The mind, body and soul are all seriously affected by the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Each year, the Team Phoenix Foundation work incredibly hard to support a group of women through a tailor-made 6 month social and training programme, with dedicated coaches and mentors, to regain physical and mental wellbeing while building friendships and a lasting support structure. Ultimately, these ladies then work together to complete a sprint distance triathlon. Hence the motto, "Helping Breast Cancer Women Rise from the Ashes and Fly Across the Finish Line of a Triathlon".   

Yes people I said TRIATHLON!!!!!! Anyone that knows me well, will recognise that: 1. 'I haven’t done any proper run for ages 2.  I can only do breaststroke and above water and haven’t swum in a lake before!  and 3. I haven’t rode  a bike since I was aged 10, , I don't have the fitness or stamina to do all 3 things on same day!! Apparently though, none of this matters (!).... and I have (proudly!) been accepted into the 2021 Team Phoenix Firebirds!!! 

Our team of 10 ladies will be competing in the Hever Castle triathlon on 25th September 2021, which consists of a 400m lake swim, 20km bike ride, followed by a 4km run (Christ help me!!!! 😱😱)

As it can cost over £1000 to provide the support and training for just one woman in this process, I would like to raise as much money as I possibly can to enable more women like me to find some positivity after a Breast Cancer diagnosis.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and if you are able to, PLEASE donate whatever you can! Even if a couple of £’s.

Lots of Love Nikki.., AKA Nick Nock!! 

Xxxx

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