On 10th July 2023, my life changed forever. I got the words no 37 year old woman wants to hear... "You have breast cancer"

Rewind a few months and it was time for something new, I decided to take a short career break before setting up as self-employed. In my quest for enlightenment (definitely not my mid life crisis....) I wanted to do something with the time so chose to take on some of the South West Coast path and made it all the way from Minehead to Lands End!

Little did I know I was carrying a dark passenger. No, not the Dexter serial murdering kind, but a fast-growing cancer that had begun to manifest itself as pain in my breast. I remember thinking as I climbed the beautiful coast of Cornwall, "hey if it is cancer at least I'm doing something cool!".

After finding out I had stage 3 breast cancer I've now had a mastectomy, lymph node removal, chemotherapy will have completed radiotherapy in March. Then onto hormone therapy to induce menopause and stop my ovaries producing oestrogen which my cancer likes to feed off (yum yum).

I am determined to get back to what I love and to raise awareness of the importance of regular boob and chest checking. So what better opportunity then hiking through the Himalayas with group of fellow badass people affected by Cancer with some celebrities thrown in too!

All in the name of CoppaFeel a fantastic charity who are on a mission to ensure breast cancer is diagnosed early and correctly by getting the nation to check their boobs/chest regularly. I think often, if I'd been more aware and checked myself more regularly, then maybe I could have caught it sooner. Coppafeel not only educate, but empower and advocate for young women who aren't picked up in regular screening and may not feel confident speaking to their GP.

You can read more about the amazing work they do on their website, where you can also sign up to regular reminders to check your chest (which I strongly encourage you to do).

I know times are tough but any donation you can spare big or small will not only contribute to this fabulous cause but will make me so so happy (and I had cancer so you can't make me sad right?!😉)

x

To find out more about CoppaFeel! head to www.coppafeel.org.