Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page and for reading my story. 

On 4th July 2012 I received a diagnosis that no one wants to hear. I was told that I had Breast Cancer and that I would need a full Mastectomy. Initially we hoped that I would not need any further treatment, but the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. This meant a further operation and 6 months of Chemotherapy. I was told that I could 'cold cap' during my Chemotherapy, which, if I was lucky, might mean that I would not loose all my hair, which meant, in turn, that I was not going to look 'ill'. I was lucky and, although I did loose a lot of hair, I kept a reasonable amount. 

Because I was able to keep a reasonable head of hair, it feels appropriate to mark my anniversary by having my head shaved for charity. My hairdresser has kindly agreed to do this for me at noon on 4th July 2022. I will be at our village church, St Mary's, Long Wittenham, at about 11.30am on Monday, 4th July, thanks to our local clergy. If you would like to come and give me moral support, you may find a cup of tea or coffee, and possibly a cake, waiting for you. If you have any old bras you would like to donate, I will also be collecting those for Against Breast Cancer. 

I feel very lucky that my diagnosis has actually led to some positive outcomes. It helped me make the decision to take early retirement, which has allowed me to set up a paper craft business and share my passion for all paper crafts. It was also the catalyst to my husband and I moving to our new home in the country, something we had always promised ourselves we would do. If you want to read more about my first year with Breast Cancer, please take a look at the blog I set up and kept every day for almost a year, with my last entry just over a year after my initial diagnosis ( https://liz-s-updates.blogspot.com ).

I want to take the opportunity of my ten year anniversary to raise funds to help research a vaccine against Breast Cancer as well as help reduce the chance of secondary spread. I am thankful for every day I live without that diagnosis, but what many do not realise is that it can still happen, many years after the initial diagnosis. Sadly, like other cancers, Breast Cancer is a ticking time bomb and can appear as secondary spread many, many years after the primary diagnosis. Work to treat and, hopefully find a cure for both primary and secondary cancers is vital, but, like everything else, it takes money.

If you are able to give any amount, no matter how small, you can help to support the work of Against Breast Cancer. This is a small charity, set up by people who lived in the village my husband and I now call home. I know just how much your support will mean to the charity and its work. Thank you in advance for your donation.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you again for your support