A year ago, I wouldn't have believed this??
??Last January I started running and did the ‘couch to 5K’. If I’m honest, at the time this was a way to get warm during my lunch break whilst WFH. The knock-on benefit was that I became more productive in the afternoons, following the fresh air and endorphin hit; more focused, more positive, more creative.
By the start of April, I was running 4 or 5 days a week and in the best shape of my life – and that’s when I found the lump.
??Thankfully, I got it checked out and I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May: “Caught early, very treatable”
No-one expects it to happen to them, despite the stats showing now that 1 in 2 of us will experience cancer in our lifetime, and particularly not when feeling so well: anyone who has experienced that moment when they're told they have cancer and their life changes forever, in an instant, can relate to the shock, to the feeling that you are living someone else’s life, and to the sense of unfairness of it all. For me, the hardest part was telling our 13-year-old daughter.
It seemed even more unbelievable given that a very close friend, Natasha Bowen , was also in the middle of thyroid cancer treatment, that we had recently lost a cousin in his 40s to a brain tumour, and that my mother-in-law was diagnosed, the week after me, with blood cancer.
The day after my diagnosis I woke feeling very low; what’s the point in keeping fit, eating healthily, not smoking, only drinking occasionally – and then I realised I needed some endorphins! I went out for a run and bumped into a ‘runner’ friend, who was so positive and supportive, and I realised I was going to own this and make the 4 weeks of feeling well, between then and my surgery, really count.
??With support from several friends and family, who would run with me when they could, I set myself the challenge to run 100km within the month before I started treatment, to raise money for the Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven charity, who had already been such an incredible support to me and my family, and have continued to be so to this day ??.
?The purpose in having a goal, a focus, an example to set to my daughter about how you can turn something really tough into something positive, plus the benefit physically and to my mental health, can’t be overstated.
?I managed to get out for a walk nearly every day following surgery, and 4 weeks after my second surgery I was back running again. 4 weeks beyond that I was running the Worcester 10K with an inspiring friend and cancer survivor, raising again for the Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven charity.
The day after the 10K, in mid-September, I started two weeks of radiotherapy.
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The effects of this hit me harder than I expected over the days and weeks that followed. At least I could WFH, which gave me some distraction, purpose and mental stimulation, but there were some very low times, and ongoing pain meant running just wasn’t an option to boost my mood.
?Instead, while I recovered, and with the help and support of the amazing Natasha Bowen and my awesome family, I set myself a new challenge: use the contacts I have, and fantastic generosity from West Country Marquees , who I work for, to put on The Black and White Charity Gala (https://lnkd.in/dvnwTMGv), with the aim to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and raise funds for further life saving research into all cancers.
?Something ambitious, challenging and rewarding to focus the mind, which got me engaging with local businesses and realising how much local communities will do to support each other.
??I’ve started to turn the corner in my healing – though one year on I’ve had to do the couch to 5K all over again!??
??This week I have achieved three 5km runs and the endorphins are flowing – I’m sure it helps that the buzz is also building about the ball.
?I know I’ve been one of the ‘lucky’ ones, and the past year has made me reflect on what’s truly important, and more greatly appreciate the things that make life special – time with family and friends, valuing the stunning scenery around me, and making exciting plans, both big and small.
?In life, as in business, having short, medium and long-term goals can keep us motivated and give us direction. I know I thrive on this.
?We are very excited about the gala night on 8th March, and about raising more money to help fight this awful disease – get in touch to book your table or to offer your support.
To find out more: The Black and White Charity Gala
To support with a donation: