I am taking part in Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trusts ‘Step into Christmas’ challenge to raise money to support young people living through and beyond cancer, and will be walking 15,000 steps every day in November.

Aged 13 my sister Claire was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and her world and our family’s changed forever. She underwent successful treatment, however, life was forever altered. In Claire’s own words https://youtu.be/_ombMV_sfHE?feature=shared :

“the earth has literally been taken from under your feet and it can’t, it’s not going to be put back in the same way ever again, and there’s not going to be anything to stand on for a while. Your perception of what is guaranteed and what’s certain is so destroyed because something so unexpected happened to you and so adjusting to what had shifted in my perception of the world and then trying to fit back in was really challenging. And the support wasn’t really there. There was loads when you were in the hospital and then it all just sort of fell off a cliff at the end of treatment. What is so fantastic about the Trust and about the work the do is it really makes you feel like it’s ok that I haven’t just walked straight back into my GCSEs and walked straight back into so and so’s birthday party and everything’s fine. It just planted a seed that first trip. Just that 4 days on the trip started to do the small things that would restore that sense of possibility that the future is a thing that is going to happen, that I can be a part of, that I need to prepare for.”.

Last year, Claire had a relapse and life was once again turned upside down. We were cruelly reminded of the sheer disbelief and shock that shakes a family and also how lonely it can be. The amazing thing about the Trust is that in bringing together children and young people who have the same shared experience, they immediately feel less alone and more understood. It is truly vital work.

I cannot thank the Trust enough for helping my sister and us as a family through a very difficult time. I hope you will support me to raise much needed funds for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust so they can support even more young people.