Just breathe. These were the words I said to myself when my dear friend Rochelle Taylor shared her news, having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. I wanted to just break down and sob but I knew this is not what she needed at that moment in time. But she proved resilient in the face of her adversary and found a way to keep her soul and body together through this key lifestyle change and I think ultimately love, hope and tenacity played an huge part in her recovery.

A deeply private person by nature, but one who always exhibits a sense of self worth, a joi de vivre, with a love of art, film, storytelling, fine dining and theatre, Rochelle Taylor is a woman who values the friendships and family in her life and looks after her health and physical appearance. When you first meet Rochelle in person there is an air of Grace Kelly mannerisms about her. She is gracious, thoughtful, and not surprisingly a woman who just continues to defy age as she embodies beauty from within and out. I think it was all those characteristics rolled into one that drew me to Rochelle’s friendship all those many years ago when we first met in 2001. That and her fabulous cooking and baking skills!

So her news was quite devastating for me to hear. I remember our heart to heart very clearly as she shared her new diagnosis and pain. All I kept thinking in my head was: “I wish I had a magic wand to make this all go away for her”. Surprisingly it was Rochelle herself who was the wand as she just would not give in. She has truly taught me about what it really means to be brave, have hope and really fight for yourself. Sadly, the financial burden this has placed on her has been astronomical ($60k) as a result of having the incorrect insurance to cover costs and also because she is retired. I just want to show my support and love for this brave woman by trying to raise funds to help ease her stress. I hope and pray others out there will be kind enough to help as well.