Team Bex

Team Bex - Forever the storm

Fundraising for Bowel Cancer UK
£37,001
raised of £40,000 target
by 960 supporters
In memory of Rebecca Griffiths
Bowel Cancer UK

Verified by JustGiving

RCN 1071038
We campaign, support and fund research to stop people dying of bowel cancer

Story

“Forever the storm"… It’s surreal writing this but for anyone reading this you should know the story behind the team and the great work and efforts that they all achieve raising money and awareness for charity..
Team Bex was born from a single determination to beat the odds and refusal to give in even when facing devastating news.
The following are Bex’s words from the original page…
"It's with much excitement and (some disbelief) that I welcome you to this site. 
I am 33 years old, I am married to Jon and have two wonderful sons William 6yrs and Benjamin 19months. 
On the 5th of August 2014 I was told that I had both bowel and liver cancer. Jon was told that I may only have weeks if not a couple of months to live. I wouldn't see Benjamin's first birthday, see him crawl and I would never hear him say my name. I wouldn't be able to play 'tooth fairy' to William and I wouldn't see him get his 100m swimming badge. We told William straight away and he knew that mummy might have to go to heaven if the medicine didn't work. I remember him asking Jon if he would get a 'new mummy ' . 
On the 7th of August I met with Dr Palmer, we sat together and set a plan. I told her then that I would fight the cancer and that I wasn't prepared to leave my boys. She asked If I always smiled, I told her that there was no point crying as it wouldn't take it away, she told me that I could start chemo the following week. 
On the 11th of August I attended Addingbrookes to have a port fitted, I remember sitting in the waiting room trying so hard to hold back the tears. On the 13th of August I started chemo. My first six treatments went well and I had my first CT scan in October. My results were to be given to me the following Tuesday. On that Monday I went to the Garden Centre and brought all new decorations for the tree, thinking that it would be my last Christmas. 
The day of my results came and I received so many messages from family and friends wishing me luck. I remember opening the door and Dr Palmer had a huge smile on her face, "its amazing" she said. The cancer in the liver had shrunk dramatically, the CT report was marked "remarkable" . 
I started chemo again the following day and had a second CT scan in February. The scan results again were amazing. The cancer had shrunk again. 
I continue to have treatment and only this month (Oct) was told that the cancer had shrunk by 4cm. I am going for the record for the most amount of chemo that one person can have without a break.
The cancer may not have gone YET, but it is no longer in control of me. 
Every night I lie in bed and say  .....
" YOU WILL NOT WIN, YOU WILL NOT TAKE ME FROM MY BOYS" 
On the 11th of October I stood on the start line of the Peterborough Half Marathon with over 300 members of the team, a year, two months and six days after we were told that I may not be here. 
Over the last few months I have been supported by the most amazing friends and family. They have cried with me, laughed with me and when needed given me stern words! 
I hope that we raise lots of money for Hunts Community Cancer Network, so that we can improve the lives of those living with cancer. 
Team Bex will continue to enter events across the county to raise awareness and raise money. 
By keeping running I hope to prove to those that have cancer that however bad, come times miracles do happen and it can be beaten, then i will be very happy x”
Bex sadly lost her battle on 1st July of this year, at no point did she ever give up the fight and I mean ever!! She was not blind to the facts but remained focused and positive throughout.
Bex’s wish was to raise £60000 at the start of 2016 which was achieved, following the last scan appointment when we were told that despite all the positives to date, that Chemo had started to fail and there was nothing else available… Devastating doesn’t come close, at the time Bex felt good, tired from over 110 chemo treatments back to back but good.
Disbelief was replaced by anger (having then discovered that there are only three options available and if you’ve had the best two the third isn’t worth considering), confusion and many other emotions but the overriding desire to help and change never left… As such Bex wanted the Team to raise as much money as they can for Cancer Research and make every effort for the money to be directed into Bowel and Liver cancer and Cancer Gene research as these are particularly underfunded and not understood or known about…
Compounding the devastating news knowing that time was now against us was the fear that our two precious sons could be affected in years to come through no fault of their or anyone else’s…
Since its inception the team has grown and continues to do so and has raised £62080.81 for HCCN (Hunts Community Cancer Network) on the initial Just-giving page, who provided help, support and advice constantly and throughout the last two years and the charity and its aims very much deserved the support given in return by the team and others. The Team have will continue to raise awareness and money for other causes to as they recently did funding a defibrillator for the local park where the team run frequently.
final words from Bex…
Fate whispers to the warrior.
“You can not withstand the storm”.
The warrior whispers back.
“I am the storm”
Forever the storm

About the charity

Bowel Cancer UK

Verified by JustGiving

RCN 1071038
We’re the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. Our vision is a future where nobody dies of the disease.

Donation summary

Total raised
£37,000.67
+ £4,525.60 Gift Aid
Online donations
£37,000.67
Offline donations
£0.00

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