Hi, I’m Sarah.  Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

In May this year I’m going to cycle 300km in 3 days across Croatia with my best friend Veronica from high school and a larger group of wonderful women who are all taking a stand against cancer.  We’re raising money for Women V Cancer and, whether male or female, we’ve all been touched in one way or another by this awful disease. 

My grandparents both died in their early 60s from cancer - my nan was diagnosed with breast cancer in her late 40s and battled it for over 10 years until she finally lost.  My grandad followed shortly after, from cancer, but also a broken heart.  They had been together for over 40 years since their late teens and he didn’t want to live without her. The family were devastated. 

More recently, my lovely bookclub friend Ali died from cancer less than a year ago - she was only 47 yrs old and a mum to two beautiful teenage girls who needed her.  When a friend your own age loses their battle it really hits home that this disease doesn’t care who it takes. It is heartless and we need to do more to fight it.  Thankfully I know a lucky few who have beaten it and how lucky we are to still have them in our lives. But I also know of several other lovely ladies, all relatively young, battling it right now. 

That’s why I’m cycling over 100km a day for 3 days to raise money for this really worthwhile cause which is very close to my heart.  I’m not a keen cyclist.  I’ve only previously cycled for leisure and up until recently I could probably count the number of bike rides I’ve done in the last few years on my two hands.  In fact, after an awful fall off a bike down a Greek mountain on holiday a couple of years ago (the happy photo of me above was taken just before I set off on the bike ride!) I didn’t think I’d get on a bike again.  So this is a real challenge for me, at the moment I don’t even know if I can do it!  But I want to push myself to do something tough but worthwhile, and with your help it will get me through the gruelling weeks and months of training and the exhausting ride itself across Croatia.  

Initially, I signed up for this thinking I would also get to enjoy the stunning scenery Croatia has to offer, but having looked at the itinerary I’ll be lucky if I see anything through the sweat and tears I now expect will be part of this journey!  For anyone who listened to Jamie Theakston on Heart Radio recently cycling across the UK you’ll know what I mean - he was a broken man and I must admit, it put me off!!!  But then I remember why I want to do this and I’m determined again to get through it.

I’m therefore asking that instead of buying me a drink this year (for whatever reason) or sending me a birthday card or present, or instead of an early Christmas drink or present please please donate.  Even if you weren’t planning on buying me a drink donate me one anyway, it’s for an amazing cause!!  It doesn’t matter whether it’s £1, £2 or much more, every little donation really counts and I’d be grateful for whatever you can contribute.  For anyone you know who has suffered in some way from this awful disease, but also to help protect our loved ones in the future because we never know what’s around the corner, please spare whatever you can to help us try and beat Cancer.  

Your donations will help me through the tiring miles of cycling knowing that it’s all for such a good cause.  Thanks so much in advance, Sarah xx

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