Welcome to my fundraising page for CoppaFeel!

As many of you know, I found a lump when I was 29 and was diagnosed with breast cancer back in July 2001 at the young age of 30 … words you never want to hear. I can hardly believe it was 24 years ago! So much has happened since then and it all seems a bit surreal now. At the time though it was devastating news but, thankfully, I found the lump relatively early and I’m still here to tell the tale which, unfortunately, still isn’t the case for everyone. I went through a lumpectomy, months of gruelling chemo and radiotherapy and took tamoxifen for three years after that. The worst thing through all of that though was not knowing if I’d be able to have the baby myself and Jason longed for so much, as I was told that my fertility may well be affected and tests after my treatment were very borderline. Again, as most of you know, I not only went on to have one miracle baby but now have our three amazing children - Madeleine (19), Patrick (18) and Henry (14). I have been very blessed.

I was very young, had no family history of breast cancer and was in the peak of health at the time. Unfortunately cancer doesn’t discriminate and it does affect young people. Knowing your normal is so important for early detection and a better chance of survival. I really wish that Coppafeel! had been around when I was younger as it was by sheer chance that I found my lump. I wasn’t breast aware. I didn’t know I needed to be at 29! Their awareness campaigns really do save lives.

After all these years, and now in my 50s, I felt it was about time to go out of my comfort zone and do something that I’ve wanted to do for a long, long time. This November I will set out on a challenging, extraordinary and life-changing trek, all in the name of checking chests! Along with Gi Fletcher, some other famous faces and 120 other inspirational trekkers I will embark on a 100km trek across 5 days in the Sahara Desert, in a bid to raise funds towards CoppaFeel's life-saving mission. We’ll be walking for up to 8 hours a day across sand dunes, valleys and gorges in extreme heat. We will have basic facilities while camping without electricity and enduring freezing night temperatures. We have been warned that this challenge will test us physically, mentally and emotionally.

Your donations will not only support my fundraising target of £3000 but, most importantly, CoppaFeel!. They are on a mission to stamp out the late diagnosis of breast cancer by making sure that young people are regularly checking their boobs, pecs and chests and getting to know their bodies in order to have the confidence to see their GP if something just doesn't feel normal.

You’ve probably heard that early detection saves lives and it’s true. It can also mean less harsh treatment, better surgical options and reduced long term physical and mental side effects of living through and beyond breast cancer. That’s why I’m so passionate about supporting Coppafeel!. Their work reminds people to check their chests and to know what signs and symptoms to look out for. This knowledge could make a life saving difference to my friends, my colleagues and the people I love.

Thanks so much for your donation and support. It really does mean a lot to me and I appreciate anything that you can give. To find out more about CoppaFeel! head to www.coppafeel.org.

Please think of me as I train for the trek and anyone is very welcome to join me on any of my training walks. I’d love your company.

Lots of love,

Kathryn xxx