Its a long story but.. I am shaving my very precious hair, on Saturday 17th March 2018 to raise money to say thank you to those who helped me most while suffering cancer. Maggie’s Centre, Cheltenham Cobalt Unit, Gloucester Hospital (funds to be divested as guided by the colorectal nirsing team). The hair will be donated to wigs made for cancer sufferers.

I also intend to work with charities and other professionals to address the mental health issues surrounding serious illness. With your collective support I plan to sponsor research into how assistance can be provided to enable better insight for individuals affected by the trauma that can surround these difficult human journeys. .

Why I have embarked upon this project?

I took early retirement in 2011, aiming to gain more control over my time and to build an independent business, with a focus on change management. However, life quickly taught me who was in control.

My mother and mother in law both fell ill needing palliative care, I concurently contracted and survived cancer myself and we faced a host of illness and berreavements amongst family and friends. By the grace of good fortune we were blessed with much support and now it is time to play my part.

Over these past troubling years, cancer has taken many friends and close relatives, others have survived. I have experienced the ups and downs that come with these paths that so many of us tread and seen the stress and mental health issues that come with us along the way and affect the patient, the family and close friends.

There is more that can be done To help. This fundraising project will partly pay back charities that helped me, or my friends and family in the past, but also look to address gaps in the support available.

The funds raised will be invested against these aims on a 50/50 basis.