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We have lots of exciting forthcoming challenges later this year…so why don’t you come and join us with your friends and family?

8-10 September

Zipslide the Clyde

1 October

Great Scottish Run

1 October

Loch Ness Marathon

3 November

Firewalk beatsoncancercharity.org/events

“In 2021, I walked the 23-mile Kiltwalk with my mum, daughter, aunty and nephew and raised £4000 for Beatson Cancer Charity, who have always held a special place in our hearts, after they graciously nursed my aunt, as she lost her fight to breast cancer.

Little did we know that one year on, I would be standing at the Ladies Lunch, completely bald, winning the famous Mulberry handbag - as I too was receiving support from The Beatson, in my own fight against cancer. I found a lump in my right breast and within two weeks, on the 14th October 2021, I was diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes.

Tears started to flow but I pushed them back in, hung up the phone, broke the news to my husband, got ready and drove to my friend’s house - because the next day was her wedding, and I was the bridesmaid.

I kept this life-changing information to myself and performed my bridesmaid duties allowing my friend to have the wedding day she deserved. I always get asked how I managed this, and the honest answer is - a couple of glasses of champagne, my husband’s hand and the knowledge that as soon as we broke the news of my cancer, our lives would change forever.

For over a year, our lives consisted of around 5 months of chemotherapy, surgery with full node clearance, 19 sessions of radiation, countless scans, blood tests and many more twists and turns throughout. Our lives were not our own and we found ourselves in a weird cancer bubble that to this day feels like a dream.

I made sure I saw my daughter Emma and son Tom out to school and nursery every day, no matter how awful I was feeling because being mum was my reason to fight, my reason not to give up.

I can’t thank my family enough for their love, support and faith in me as a fighter. Cancer took a lot from me; my hair, my body, my control, my fertility and, at times, my confidence.

But what it never took was my voice and I gained some of that control back, the first time I shared my story.

It is true what they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Well cancer, you tried, but you failed...because one year on and I am in remission, living my new normal, continuing to raise awareness and give hope to anyone going through a diagnosis.”