In the summer of 2000 I was recalled for abnormal cells following a routine smear test that I very nearly didn't attend because I was too busy!

The following 5 months had me back and forth to hospital for more tests and invasive procedures, then in January 2001 I was told I had cervical cancer and an immediate hysterectomy was required!

I was 33 years young, a mum of two beautiful girls aged 13 and 5 at the time, very happily married and loving life!!!

I was admitted to Tameside General a few shorts weeks following the news, I begged them to allow me to see my eldest daughter Antoinette perform in her first lead role in panto as Aladdin, I clearly remember standing at the back of the theatre for every performance beaming with pride.

Unfortunately the timing of my surgery and recovery time meant I would still be in hospital for the already booked and planned 6th birthday party for my youngest daughter Kerrianne.

Telling Antoinette why I had to go into hospital at that time was one of the hardest things we've ever had to do as a family, we told Kerrianne Mummy had a poorly tummy and that I had to go to hospital so they could make it better, she knew I couldn't be there for her party but our dear friend Tracey took the reigns and made sure everyone had a fabulous time.

The girls visited me in hospital on Kerrianne's birthday - when I asked her what she'd got, she said she was waiting to open her presents till Mummy came home, a heart of gold back then and even more so now.

My follow up appointment went okay, it was confirmed that I didn't need any chemo or radiotherapy as they'd taken away the lymph glands for testing and it hadn't spread so they was happy to confirm they'd got it all.

Over the next six months I noticed a swelling in my left leg at first the GP just thought it was water due to me not being as mobile as I was due to the operation, elevation of the leg was ordered and water tablets!!

Almost twelve months went by when back at the hospital Mr Ali my surgeon confirmed that the swelling in my left leg was in fact Lymphoedema, a swelling of the leg caused by the removal of the lymph glands from that area, more popular in ladies who have had breast cancer their arm swells.

So I was referred to St Ann's Hospice in Cheadle where a wonderful Lymphoedema specialist nurse showed me how to manage the swelling. Sadly has the years have gone by my leg has just got bigger and if I'm honest I hated it, I'd have quiet happily had it amputated, I learnt to hide it under wide leg trousers or floor length skirts.

Now I see it has a tool to remind me of the fact if I hadn't have gone for that smear test, I most probably wouldn't be here now, I wouldn't have witnessed our beautiful Antoinette marry the man of her dreams and see the  births of our two beautiful clever funny grandsons, nor would I have witnessed our beautiful Kerrianne graduate not once but twice and then for both of them to move to opposite ends of the country to start new lives.

After a few years I was transferred to Willow Wood Hospice once they got their Lymphoedema team in place - the wonderful ladies Bridge and Mandy - they have continued to look after me, put up with my constant demands to try something different, used me as the tester for anything new coming out and been absolute rocks when I've turned up a blubbering mess because I HATED my leg!!

When anyone now asks why is your leg swollen I tell them the story and insist they go & also encourage all of their female family & friends to get that smear done, 5 minutes of discomfort, feeling embarrassed and looking up at a ceiling can potentially save your life!!!

And so here's why I'm challenging myself to do a year of different challenges to help raise much needed funds for Willow Wood Hospice alongside my daughter Kerrianne. 

EDIT: 2020 meant a year of cancellations but we still managed throughout January to complete RED & DRY January challenge by running, cycling, walking or swimming at least 5km a day on top of anything I normally do and to not drink anything alcoholic.

I also completed the virtual Manchester Marathon. Here's to continuing with more things that challenge us. 

EDIT part 2: And we blinked hello 2021, Kerrianne has a marathon planned, a triathlon and the penultimate challenge will be in November 2021 when we join the rest of the Willow Wood Sahara Trek team, to trek along the Sahara Desert as well as wild camping each night.

I'm planning a few events over the coming months too, just need to get my ducks in a row first: 

Lots of love and thank you for reading so far, take care of you xxxxx