“The NHS saved my life, Penny Brohn UK showed me how to live it" - a quote from one of the many cancer patients Penny Brohn have helped over the last 40 years. It is a sentiment that I too hold from personal experience as, following a diagnosis of breast cancer through the NHS screening programme in April 2023, I started out on my own cancer journey. Despite its unexpected lengthy nature and challenges, my cancer journey has proved to be a positive and life enhancing experience, aided greatly by a book my brother bought me ("Anti Cancer, a New Way of Life" by Dr David Servan Schreiber) and the support that I later received from Penny Brohn UK.

At the outset, I found that the first and greatest challenge following diagnosis, was to confirm the results of my biopsies to my husband and then to go on to tell my daughters my devastating news, without them first being aware that I had undergone any medical screening. At the time Sarah-Jane was 8 months pregnant with her first baby and I was acutely aware that I had no experience of how best to protect my family from what was to come. In breaking the news next to our wider family and friends ,as the medical process gathered enormous speed, I realised that I had had no time to properly absorb or process what was happening to me and how I felt. In this new world of diagnosis and treatment I found myself in a whirlwind of appointments with my fabulous medical team intent on utilising the best medical advances and success rates of today to achieve the very best outcome. As simply a patient however, I found it difficult to keep up as questions constantly presented themselves to me and I began to feel the separation and loneliness that cancer can bring from the world I'd known just a week or two previously.

David Servan Schreiber's own story, told in his book alongside the research and science he presents, started to give me back a sense of control as I gradually worked my way through the chapters when I felt able. I soon realised that whilst the medical profession were using their skills in treating my cancer, I could enhance my feeling of wellbeing, aid the outcome of my treatment and enjoy life to the full again no matter what the end result might turn out to be. My life had changed forever and I had found a new and positive way of looking at everything, so that I felt gratitude for each day and could immerse myself in enjoying every moment. Indeed life was more precious than it had felt before and cancer had given me the permission to look after myself. I made gradual changes to my diet, how I exercised and how I relaxed both mind and body. I immersed myself in nature whilst walking and cycling and over several weeks I began to feel more healthy and vibrant than I had felt for many years. These new "tools" I also found at my disposal when I was introduced to Penny Brohn UK by the Elstree Cancer Centre, cementing a new and healthy way to live my life.

Penny Brohn UK are a cancer health and wellbeing charity. They support any adult with any type of cancer, anywhere in the UK. Whether newly diagnosed, going through cancer treatment, adjusting to life after treatment or living with a terminal diagnosis, they can give cancer patients the tools and support needed to live better with cancer and feel more in control of their lives. When I was first introduced to the Penny Brohn cancer charity following my surgery and radiotherapy treatments, I found at my fingertips a wealth of invaluable resources and support. A few weeks on I knew that this was the charity I’d been searching for to enable me to help support others with cancer.

In order to raise much needed funds for Penny Brohn UK, I decided to walk the 630 miles of the South West Coastal Path (SWCP). I wanted my choice of fundraising activity to be a challenge to both my fitness and resolve, and be something I would need to rise to with determination and effort, whilst at the same time giving something back. With my family connections in the South West of England, and a lifetime of holidays to the area, I am under no illusions that this will be an easy task. This is perhaps also the time to mention that I am somewhat afraid of heights but to succeed I will have to endure many narrow and steep cliff paths along the way! I plan to start out on 31st August 2024 and finish by 30th September 2025, avoiding the winter months whilst the path becomes more dangerous and allowing time to attend medical appointments and important events at home. I have chosen to walk daily over periods of two to three weeks, covering sensible distances to match my health and physical fitness. I intend to keep you all updated with my progress via Strava and by posting regular updates and photos on this page.

Please support me by donating to this exceptionally important cause. I have chosen to initially raise £8000 as this is approximately the cost of 16 people attending one of the retreats at Penny Brohn UK. Thank you for any support you can give with donations and gift aid.

The holistic approach championed by Penny Brohn UK for so many years, supporting physical and emotional resilience, has been shown to improve the quality of life and clinical outcomes of people living with cancer and is an approach now fully recognised and supported by most medical professionals.

In April 2024 I was able to attend a retreat at Penny Brohn UK in Pill near Bristol with 15 other cancer patients, diagnosed with varying types of cancer, of all ages and from all over the country. I am dedicating this walk to each of these 15 wonderful people who, no matter what their diagnosis, have shown so much courage, resilience and positivity. I also dedicate this walk to my family without who’s loving support I would not have been able to carry out this challenge of a lifetime. With cancer already affecting 1 in 2 people, I also dedicate this walk to you the reader, your family and your friends.

Thank you for all of your kind support.

Sue