GETKATIETONYC

Hi Everyone...

We are raising money for our lovely friend Katie Cross, who has been battling Cancer since 22.

Katie is by far the strongest and most inspiring person we know and we truly believe she deserves the chance to go to NYC.

Any barriers that have stood in Katie's way, she has not let them stop her. She is strong, passionate, a real fighter and truly inspirational. Unfortunately, £10,000 Thousand Pound for an insurance policy, for a couple of days away, is unrealistic for most of us. So we are determined to help Katie knock down this barrier and get her once in a lifetime holiday. She really does honestly and truly deserve it so much.

Please help us #getkatietonyc anyway you can!! xx


Please read Katies story below. Katie is a very private person and this has taken an awful lot of encouragement for Katie to allow us share...

Soooooo... I'd just turned 22. “I've got so much to do, so much to be, so much to achieve and so much of this growing up thing to do too! Ahhhhh!!”
Except it was me... I tend to not do things by the rules...
Two months after turning 22, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I was in such disbelief, that I had to call the breast clinic, even though I'd just been told it was Cancer 20 minutes prior.
After speaking with consultants, surgeons, oncologists and specialist nurses it was obvious all my friends, myself and a lot of health professionals couldn't quite believe the results, biopsy and examinations. Queue what normally follows…
'You can't get Breast Cancer at your age'
I wasn't ready and definitely not willing to accept the award of 'Youngest in Cheshire, Merseyside and the Northwest '.
I was beginning to make life plans: graduating, starting a career, spending time with family and friends, and maybe one day settling down and starting a family. All dates to circle in the diary…
But instead there are two dates that will forever lay heavy on my heart (as they do with every family that cancer strikes).
Obviously the day I found cancer had pitched up home in my breast and the day I found it wanted to rest on my spine, clavicle and in 52 different places in my brain.
I knew my ambitious dreams had to be tweaked and a new life, for however long that may be...had to begin... there... and then!
During my initial treatment of chemotherapy after my breast surgery (which was aimed to 'cure' me), I developed metastatic disease (the breast cancer had spread to my bones) within four months. This was so not in my treatment plan let alone in my life plan. So with a new treatment plan off my oncologist, off I go to try a different chemotherapy. A year to the date, we found the brain metastasis. Treatment plans changed with the only offer of full brain radiotherapy and then it’s back to the drawing board again! I took on board all manner of treatments as I am literally not letting this fire in my belly go out!
I continue to live, to have a purpose, a purpose to do things...not 'your bucket list' things. I've never been one of those people, I love the spontaneity. It's the little things in life that make me happy.
Anyone who knows me knows how much I adore 'The Marina Dalglish Foundation'. It hasn't just touched my own heart but people around me; past and present who I have tirelessly and unconditionally wanted to raise money for. I know they're up there spurring me on, my own angels!
As well as this I've had and do have many amazing family and friends that help raise money in my name, for me, if I'm physically not able to. Which at the minute, I'm only able to get around in my chair, with my stick and holding onto someone/something.
This has included many charities close to my heart; Clic Sargent, TYA, Clatetterbridge, Barnardos, MacMillan, Marie Curie, Cancer Research, Alder Hey, Breast Cancer Care and, of course, my main one: our Maz's ‘The Marina Daglish Foundation’
Fundraising , especially for the ‘The Marina Daglish Foundation’ is a distraction for me. I find it therapeutic and physiologically stimulating because; if we can help men/woman/families become less vulnerable through the most difficult period of their lives…then this is the most rewarding thing!
The girls approached me a while ago about how enthusiastic they are about raising money for a charity of my choice. They then told me they wanted to raise money for something for me. They had heard that I really wanted to go to New York but the insurance was a ridiculous amount! My initial thoughts were absolutely NOT.
I always prefer to give rather than receive, to see something special happen and be a part of it is something rare these days!
But having reflecting on this, especially recently and the impact my illness has had on me from a physical, psychological, emotional point of view…I have realised that I also need to do things that I WANT as well as doing the things I need, such as: the Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Hormonal Treatments, more Chemotherapy, Holistic Therapies etc… And after speaking with some of the charities, family and friends, I know they're right...
So I have reluctantly allowed Megan and the girls to share my story.