I lost my lovely Mum to bowel cancer 10 years ago, I find it hard to believe it was even that long ago and that I haven’t seen her in so long. And whilst sometimes I struggle with that, I know I am very lucky to have had such a wonderful, strong and brave lady who was mine and who influenced my life so strongly. Not everyone is blessed to have had such an amazing Mum, and I know that I am very lucky.

Mum loved a cuppa. It was her answer to everything (probably better than my wine answer). She loved a cake or biscuit too. If there was ever anything wrong, she’d put the kettle on and get the cake out for a chat. In fact, there didn’t need to be anything wrong – she just loved a cuppa and a cake!

So it seemed perfectly fitting to join in with Bowel Cancer UK’s Brew Together campaign this August, which is also Mum’s birthday month (18^th) when she would have been 66. Sadly she was taken at just 56 years old and didn’t get to meet her amazing Grandson Bobby and her bonkers Granddaughter Mollie who she’d have adored.

There will be cakes, maybe tea – but definitely wine for me! The rest will be confirmed when we have made plans. 

But you don’t have to wait until then to give, you can make a donation through Just Giving and help Bowel Cancer UK fund research to save lives and to support so many other families through their journey. With mum, it was late diagnosis that made it too late to be able to save her life. She bravely fought it away for years with chemotherapy and later on, once the cancer had spread to her lungs she had radiotherapy, before passing away in March 2012.

This seems a good time to get together and raise money and awareness of this horrible disease. My mum was diagnosed in her late 40’s and sadly it seems that so many younger people are getting diagnosed.  Just last month, Deborah James lost her battle, leaving behind her husband and two children.  We can’t keep losing our gorgeous people to this disease, it needs to stop, but for that to happen we need to raise awareness so that people are aware of the signs and symptoms, and raise money to help fund research into treatments and give everyone the hope for that cure.

Bowel Cancer UK’s mission is to stop people dying of bowel cancer.  They fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.

If you have a few pounds to spare, just the amount of a cuppa or a cake, then please do give to help make a difference.

Thanks so much

V x