Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page!

This is my first ever fundraising event, finally doing something to raise money personally (rather than just sponsoring other people lol)! I have signed up to the Race for life, to run 5K around Saltwell Park, Gateshead on Sunday 26th September 2021. This will be a HUGE challenge for me, as I am so unfit, carrying a lot of lockdown weight and currently can't run for more than a minute without stopping. I will need to do the couch to 5K in preparation!

I've chosen Cancer Research UK as my charity, as I want to raise as much money as possible to help try and beat Cancer sooner, and also try to raise people's awareness around Skin Cancer by sharing my personal story.

In 2019, I was diagnosed with a very rare and serious form of skin cancer. It was a malignant melonoma on my foot (not sun related), but luckily I caught it by going to the Dr's early to get things checked out. I had surgery from the amazing NHS to get it removed and can now walk away feeling extremely lucky with just a small scar to show for it. I know some people aren't as lucky, which is utterly devastating.

Until now, I haven't really spoken much about my diagnosis.  But now I feel its time to speak up to raise awareness, as it might just help save someone's life one day. I want everyone reading this to not ignore any little niggles they might have about a lump, bump or mole. We are the ones who know out own bodies and if anything seems new, strange or different, I urge you to get it checked out no matter if you feel silly going to the Dr's.

I felt silly, and even my friends took the mick when I told them the Dr had at first told me 'it was just a freckle'. I first noticed a new, very dark brown perfectly round small dot on the top of my foot. It was unusual and stood out on my pasty white feet! I don't think I would have normally went to the Dr's about such a thing, but sadly a work colleague had not long passed away due to skin cancer which was on his toe. He himself had told me 'don't ignore anything, get things checked out quickly', his words were in my head and my symptoms sounded all too familiar. 

About a year had passed and I noticed that this 'dot' had changed in colour, it got lighter with an uneven colour, it had got bigger and changed shape.  I went back again to my Dr, who made a referal. Very quickly I was seen by a Dermatologist and it took the opinion of two medics to decide they should biopsy it.  Thank goodness they did as it came back as a Melonoma, a very serious form of skin cancer, which can spread agressively and quickly to other parts of the body. I dread to think what would have happened if I didn't get this niggle checked out or if the Dr did not refer me on this ocassion.  (If you don't mind looking at feet, I would encourage you to check out the pics in the gallery to see what my melonoma looked like, to raise awareness of what to look out for on your skin. (Apologies for the grains of sand on my feet in the final pic - I took this one whilst I was on holiday!))

Please, please, please....check yourself regularly and go to the Dr's (yes even in the Pandemic!) to get checked out if you notice anything strange and not quite right, even if its only something little. Also do not be scared to ask for a 2nd opinion, or go back to the Dr's again as it could save your life! There is a much better chance of survival if Cancer is caught early.

I would be really grateful if you could sponsor me so that we can help try and beat Cancer sooner and find a cure for this awful disease. 

Thank you so much, Lisa x

P.s 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.