It’s not really helpful at all to rage against cancer. However since working at Shine I think it’s (part) of a valid response! I’ve seen it’s life-changing, sometimes devastating impact, on so many. It’s taken away people who were filled with such human kindness, compassion, warmth, potential and magic! Friends, with families & lives ahead. It’s indiscriminate for sure but it still seems so effing unfair. Cancer takes away & damages lives of so many people who add to this world & have added to my life.

That’s why now I’m coming out of shielding, the overwhelm of lockdown I want to do something to help make sure that as many people as need it can still have access to support from Shine. I’ve been fortunate to be one who survived cancer, I need to stop letting my lasting health conditions get the better of me and now make the most of life I have again after 2020’s isolation. Rebuild my strength & fight my fatigue & anxiety from Adrenal Insufficiency and Hypothyroidism.

So I’m taking on Challenge Accepted App’s 10 day push-up challenge, Photo challenge and Drawing Challenge to get me motivated, followed by the #CaptainTom100 on 30th April (still deciding what!) & then the Ultra Challenge Jurassic Coast 25km on 27th May, with more challenges later in the year, hopefully!

COVID-19 has hit Shine very hard. It's a tiny charity with a tiny income compared to bigger orgs. Because Shine’s not as well known fundraising plummeted with cancelled events. With this big hole in funding your donation really matters helping Shine continue it’s vital support, for the 30,000 aged 25-49 diagnosed annually, helping them live their best lives with events and workshops focussed on all the issues you face; working, relationships, fertility, family, travel, health worries, anxiety, depression, living with incurable cancer, just as adult life begins! 

Support that is needed more than ever. Cancer patients are living with more uncertainty and fear with higher vulnerability to Covid. Still having to make decisions about treatment, undergoing brutal surgery, chemo and radiotherapy - and getting lives back on track after, now with the impact of Covid to cope with too. Shine has moved quickly to ensure that its support continues online and back in person as soon as allowed, but this all costs money.

Any gift, no matter the size, will make a huge difference to this small but vital charity. Please give whatever you can. Thank you.