Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2009 and had my first mastectomy in March of that year.  They also removed many lymph nodes, most of which contained cancer cells.  The cancer was on the move so during the summer I received six doses of chemotherapy and then went onto Tamoxifen and a year long course of Herceptin.  I also had a course of radiotherapy in the autumn.

In October 2010 my son and daughter ran the Great South Run to raise money for Breast Cancer Care and I vowed to get well enough to join them the following year.  At the end of November I elected to have a second mastectomy and declined the offer of reconstruction.  All the treatment takes it's toll and this was the quickest way for me to draw a line under the previous 2 years and begin looking forward again.  This is a decision I have never once regretted and in fact it empowered me and enabled me to feel like I was taking control of my destiny once more.  Throughout my treatment there were times when life was quite tough but thanks goes to my wonderful family and great friends who kept me positive.

In January 2011, having healed from surgery, I began running to regain my fitness.  With The Great South Run as my goal, I entered the Race for Life in Cirencester and while I ran, my mum walked and completed the course. A huge achievement as she had been in hospital for a spell herself.  Training continued and in October 2011 my son and I completed the Great South Run in a time of 1:47:05 raising over £1,000 for Cancer Research along the way.

This year began with my annual assessment at The Churchill hospital and I was delighted to be told that they were happy to sign me off.  I'm still taking Tamoxifen as recent research has indicated that I would continue to enjoy it's benefits.  In July I was honoured to represent all those who have experienced cancer first hand at the Race for Life, Oxford.  Having introduced myself on stage I was asked to start the race. Great fun!!

Now my thoughts turn to fundraising again as Cancer Research needs our continuing support to fund it's many projects.  I have been so lucky to benefit from the drug therapies they have developed and I know others are waiting for them to find that special drug, to make them well again like me.

Anyone who knows me will know that I like to bake but it occurred to me that whilst coffee mornings and bake sales are great ways to raise funds, not everyone has an army of friends to invite or sell to.  Hopefully, however, most of us have 2 or 3 friends we would be only to happy to bake a treat for (and no pressure that it might be a bit 'wonky donkey!')

If the recipient would be kind enough to donate £2 for their cake, biscuits or other goodies, and then be inspired to, in turn, bake for 2 or 3 of their friends, we could build a pyramid of cake giving and fundraising.

By donating via this Just Giving page or texting "DAPH50  £2" to 70070 (you can donate more than £2 if you are feeling generous) we can all keep track of how much our project is raising.  Let's raise the roof!! 

 Hopefully, if we all Stand up to Cancer together, we will all give a little money and time, share a whole lot of love and cake and raise shed loads of money to enable someone else to get that treatment they so desperately need.

Thank you so much and Happy Baking!!!

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