I am taking part in the Thames Path Challenge on 11th September 2021 by walking 22km (13.6 miles) from Hurst Park > Runnymede to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. 

I attended my first smear test in August 2020. Only 2 months later after a biopsy, several internal examinations and scans, I was diagnosed with Vaginal Cancer on 16th September 2020. I had so many questions; how is this happening to me at 25 years of age? Is this going to affect my fertility? What happens next? Understandably, I was upset, angry, scared and just straight up emotional. I will never forget watching the colour drain from my parents' faces as I told them their 25 year old daughter had a malignant growth. All I could do, myself, was console them. 

I was referred from my local hospital to the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford who have a specialist cancer centre. This was the first time I met Maria - a specialist oncology nurse who was also part of the Macmillan team. This sounds very cliche but when Maria walked into the room, I can only describe her presence as angelic. She was engaging, softly spoken and I felt like I had already known her for a while. Maria's ability to maintain total eye contact and sincerity made me feel as if I was the only person in the room despite all the other medical professionals, she put me at ease. If it were not for the pandemic, she would have reached out and held my hand or given me a hug during possibly the hardest time I'll ever face in my life. 

Maria has always gone the extra mile whether it be to take time out of her day to console me before and after a procedure, to reassure us and to check through my medical records after a typo on a letter from the hospital which suggested my cancer was stage II rather than previously diagnosed stage I and also to ensure that my mum was able to attend my first chemotherapy session with me even though visitors were not allowed during lockdown. 

Not only did I have a specific Macmillan nurse looking after me, there were also another 5 Macmillan angels on the Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Unit (TYAC) who look after fellow cancer patients aged 16-30. Claire, Nana, Tina, Kate and Merry have gone above and beyond to ensure all of my needs were met during my long chemotherapy days. Thank you all. 

After 2 surgeries, 25 sessions of radiotherapy, 5 sessions of Chemotherapy and 3 fractions of Brachytherapy, I can officially say as of December 2020, I am in remission. I physically, mentally and emotionally could not have got through this all without Maria.

Even though I have donated money myself to Macmillan Cancer Support, I feel like I will forever be indebted to them for their hard work and dedication to their patients. It truly takes a special type of person to be a Macmillan Nurse.

*Thanks for supporting my fundraising. Macmillan Cancer Support is here to help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can, providing physical, financial and emotional support. So whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right right there with you.Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs.