Just two years ago I had bowel cancer.  Without the money that pays for the continuous research into resolving cancer I doubt that I would be here to tell the story. But I AM here and I AM able to tell the story and I will happily discuss poo with anybody. Because actually it is important. It is not embarrassing or awkward - it is a basic,  normal every day activity and if it changes for you, it is worth noting and talking to your doctor. I did, and I will be eternally grateful for our amazing NHS...

I was diagnosed over Christmas /New Year 2012/13 with MRI,  CT and PET scans.  I experienced chemo radiotherapy at the fantastic cancer centre at University College Hospital London.  I then had my rectum removed and an ileostomy fitted at The Whittington Hospital in Highgate. Recovery was pretty tricky and as I struggled to eat for a good few weeks afterwards, I was lucky that my reversal operation happened PDQ and I didn't have to live with a stoma bag for long 😊. 

My follow up care is with The Royal Marsden in Sutton and my keep calm in a crisis gene is serving me well. Over two years cancer free is something to celebrate and so walking the Shine Night Walk on my 54th birthday seems like a pretty good way to celebrate. 

I am so proud and happy that my younger daughter Anya and her lovely friend Eirinn wanted to walk with me and together we would love to raise  £1000 to help more people like me beat bowel  cancer. Our group photo was taken looking over Lake Ullswater where we did just a teeny weeny bit of training for our walk. 

Carpe diem.

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www.shinewalk.org