Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Please spare a few minutes to read my story and watch my 5 years in 5 mins journey video. I jump on Saturday 28th September 10,000ft out a plane - eek!

5 years ago this week I made the initial approach to my Dr about my concerns re a lump in my breast after finding it whilst putting on sun cream in Egypt (the holiday that was meant to be a pick me up after losing my beloved mum to Ovarian Cancer, being made redundant and celebrating my new job) I hadn't realised it would be the holiday that saved my life!

In October 14 I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer...a 4.5cm lump, my world would never be the same again.....strangely though it has put life into perspective and now I appreciate everything, I surround myself with positiveness and live for today. Steve and the girls were
my focus, I had no intentions to let it beat me.

I chose the option to go on a trial to avoid having a mastectomy. I had some lymph nodes removed and then started my chemo in November, 6 cycles, I needed the tumour to shrink to below 2cm. A target had
been set! My sales head target had kicked in! My ‘Boobilicious Update’ was created & my Christmas goal was to shrink the tumour to at least 3cm to know the chemo was working!

Sadly after my first chemo Steve's Dad passed away, we were mortified, why was all this crap happening to us? I went to his funeral with a whole tin of hair spray keeping my hair attached, thanks to Naked Hair. The following week my friend came with me to have my hair shaved
and then the 'bad ass bandana's' were worn.

Chemo is crap but it is a necessity that really works. (With the help of the occasional glass of mediwine or 2). It started shrinking my tumour and my Christmas wish came true by April it was reduced to
1.9cm! I managed to have a lumpectomy and then radiotherapy commenced in May. June 23rd was my end of treatment day. In July I had preventative surgery due to my mum having ovarian cancer so was gifted with the 'Menopause'. I now use a 'lady magnet' to help which amuses me when pushing trolleys or near metal...

In August I started my New job with my ‘new hair’ admittedly not my best look (very ginger & very curly) but I didn’t let it stop me. Post cancer is a fight too, lots of meds to keep the ‘evil cancer’ away with many side affects but it gave me another challenge to seek alternative health options, which do ease the Neuropathy and Joint Pain. My
long term plan ‘suck it up’, I laugh, then cry and then get on with it.

In the April of 2015 I became a voluntary Peer Mentor for Action Cancer which is where my desire to work in this field came from. I was
trained to speak with ladies going through a similar journey to myself and offer them ‘reality advice’, as I ‘got’ them. I met some ‘amazing’ people that trained with me who became my friends, it’s great as we all help each other, sadly the amazing Julie Scates passed away this year. I shall give her a special wave on Saturday from the dizzy heights of my plane.

From that moment I knew I wanted to ‘Make a Difference’, I
did my voluntary work and enjoyed doing Business Development & Marketing for my husbands company CLP Events and Smarter Surfaces NI, then at Christmas I saw a job that had ‘Me’ written all over it….

Fundraising Engagement Manager at CLIC Sargent, working with
volunteers, service user families and corporates. I applied and ‘BOOM’ my dream job was achieved. 9 months in and I am loving life. One memory of my treatment that I hated was sitting opposite a young person 16+. At least I had got married, had the fab holidays and had the most amazing children, I had had a life, theirs was only starting (not that I was going anywhere either!). Hence why I am fundraising.

Apologies for the ‘long story’ but the moral of it is: No matter what life throws at you your inner strength will kick in. You will find
a focus. You may think your life is planned out but you can take a different route. I was always known for my planning but I didn’t plan on having Cancer at 40, I didn’t think I would lose my mum, my father-in-law & my job in that same year. 5 years on, I have an incredible family, amazing friends and a job that I am super proud of having. I am able to help children & young people and their families by fundraising for #younglivesvscancer  CLIC Sargent, they help families limit the damage cancer causes beyond their health.

My moto: “Giving is not just about getting donations. It is
about making a difference to others….and feeling good about yourself”.

Please help me ‘Make a Difference’ to families affected by
cancer.

Thank you The Ewart Clan xoxo

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