This is me, smiling, the day before my 65th birthday on 6th June. I'm wearing my just completed Jazz jumpsuit. I bought the fabric in March 2020 and my son cut it out for me a month or so later. I asked him to do it for me because I could barely grip the scissors. Why? Because three years ago this month I was diagnosed with breast cancer and after surgery, radiotherapy and meds my joints were really very painful. 

But here I am, cancer-free! My body and mind are still healing and my joints still hurt but not nearly as much. And I'm proper smiling! 

It's taken a long time to finish this jumpsuit, but it's a great reminder how far I've come. I still have one more drip treatment, yearly mammograms, and I'll be taking meds for another seven years, but I'm blessed and I'm incredibly grateful for the treatment I've had and am still having. 

On 25th June I'm running in the Delamere Forest Park Run in aid of Breast Cancer Now. It's only 5K, but my joints will make it feel like a marathon to me! I started training last October, but my meds mimic the menopause and my resulting weak bones couldn't cope and I had a flake fracture to my ankle. All healed now.  Thank you to everyone who sponsored me back then. I will do this! 

I'm doing this for me, for sisters, mothers, daughters, aunties, granddaughters, goddaughters and friends. For all the women who have had or will get breast cancer. So they can smile. Please, if you feel you are able to, sponsor me.

Thank you for reading. 😊 ❤️

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women the UK with one woman diagnosed every 10 minutes. Around 55,000 women and 370 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK. Just this week, it was announced that 30% of women who have had breast cancer go on to develop secondary breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Now provide essential research and vital support to those going through the experience of breast cancer. They have helped me enormously. Please support them by donating if you are able to. 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on 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 for the charity.