3 Incredible Charities

Hi,

Some of you will know me, some may not so I'd like to start by saying thank you for visiting this page.

Here's my story...After a lifetime of being active, playing sports, being healthy, it all changed. In January last year (2023) I found a bruise and 4 weeks later heard the words no one ever wants to hear, "it's cancer". That day forever changed me and the course of my life and I met the saddest, most broken version of myself last year. So, so much has happened.

My cancer is classed as rare, it's called Inflammatory Breast cancer and is immediately given Stage 3B status. It's fast and aggressive and in my case started as a bruise that appeared overnight, I've never had a lump. While you're reading the rest of this, give yourself a quick check over and if you notice anything unusual, anything at all, please get yourself over to your GP as soon as possible.

I've had 3 surgeries so far with more to come, what feels like hundreds of blood tests, injections, scans (and meltdowns), 17 rounds of chemo (3 more of this line of treatment to go), 2 hospital stays, 1 blood transfusion, 15 rounds of radiation, more pills to swallow than I wish to remember, 1 very bald head and the most incredible team of people taking care of me through it all.

The Breast Centre at Llandough and Velindre Cancer Centre have quite literally saved my life. Maggies in Cardiff has been my comfort blanket and provided support I didn't even know existed, let alone knew I needed. My life will never be the same but here is where I need your help. All three of the organisations that have supported me are run as charities. And raising funds is absolutely vital to their ongoing costs, whether it's to provide specialist cancer nurses, or holistic treatments during your medical care or to fund clinical psychology support and a Young Womens Group (which is a lifeline that I go along to every month at Maggies). The money raised is vital and I'd like to contribute to each of these charities so that the next person who has to hear the words "it's cancer" feels as supported as I have so far.

It's a horrible, awful, life altering disease and the reality is that the stats are not in our favour.

1 in 2 of us will experience cancer in our lifetimes.

1 in 7 women will get breast cancer.

So to help me get started in raising money for these three incredible charities, 5 of my wonderful work colleagues; Cath, Flick, Si, Dan G & Seb have signed up to ride CarTen 2024. This is the Cardiff to Tenby bike ride, its just over 100 miles in distance and has been known to have a brutal headwind in places. It will likely take around 10 hours of sitting in a saddle and they are all planning to be back in work on the Monday. Crazy yes, inspiring...absolutely. So please dig deep and help them on their way.

Thank you so much...Zoe xx

nb. All funds raised will be equally distributed to the three named charities.