Like many people , each of us have been affected by cancer in some way or another. We have had friends and family affected by cancer both young and old. Within our Battle Cancer team, Jasmine was also diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago and this year we would like to fundraise for Bart’s Charity and Jasmine would like to say a few words below as to why this fundraiser is extremely close to her heart.

Two years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I remember walking into St Bartholomew’s Hospital for my first tests after I discovered my lump. One of the first thoughts in my head as I entered the West Wing of St Bart’s, the breast clinic, was “Wow, this was not what I was expecting”… in a good way. I felt taken care of right from the very start from my mammogram to my ultrasound and shortly after when I was given my diagnosis. The team at Bart’s from the imaging team to the doctors and the nurses were absolutely incredible and made what is a very high stress situation as comfortable as possible.

I am now cancer free but two years on still continue to have some minor surgeries relating to my reconstruction after my mastectomy. Every single time I am at the hospital for surgery I am just in awe of how comfortable everyone involved in the process has made it for me.

A new and expanded breast cancer centre is being built as we speak. It will not only include state of the art equipment in a cutting edge treatment centre but also a new research centre.

What it will also do is filter more people to this hospital for their breast cancer treatments. Currently depending on where in East London someone lives they may be referred on to other hospitals in East London which may not have the kind of facilities and specialists that St Bartholomew’s has. I wish for everyone who has been affected by breast cancer to have the same experience with their team as I did and with the new cancer centre I know more people will be able to have that.

We as a team thank you for your donation. It not only will go to a good cause but it will also help us to reach the 20,000 points we need to collect to complete this year’s Battle Cancer challenge.