In April 2018, my family came to visit us in Seattle, where we living at the time. My younger sister's abdomen had been swollen and painful during the week before but she had been assured by a GP that it was nothing to worry about. The first night, during a flying trapeze class (did you know she was an amazing flying trapeze artist?), she ended up in agony, and was rushed to the hospital. Here began the endless scans, tests and needles leading to major surgery to remove the 27cm mass on her left ovary as well as a few other bits and pieces thrown in for good measure. Within the space of 48 hours she had gone from being a perfectly healthy 24 year old to being told she had Ovarian Cancer.

Since then she has had endless rounds of chemo, and a radical 9 hour surgery where they removed her remaining ovary, omentum and entire peritoneum and then filled her abdominal cavity with what they described as a bath of chemotherapy, before draining it out and sewing her back up. Unfortunately (understatement of a lifetime), despite all this, her cancer returned. She is now on an very experimental treatment (usually used to treat breast cancer) which seems to be working, I think slightly to her oncologist’s surprise, and she’ll now remain on the two targeted drugs for as long as they continue to work, although no one seems to know how long that will be.

Through this horrendous ordeal, she has obviously had lots of support from her adoring friends and family. But there are many things that she was and is going through that we cannot hope to understand. This is where Trekstock came in. Trekstock is a UK charity that supports young adults in their 20s and 30s living with and beyond cancer. Through their online community, my sister was able to meet other people her age who really got what she was dealing with, and could provide advice and support that she couldn't get anywhere else. She was also able to meet some of them in person at Trekstock's social events. I saw through her experience, how important and vital are the services that Trekstock provides, and I am lucky enough to work for them now. I'm taking part in their 2020 Urban Trek to raise money for Trekstock so they can help the 34 young adults in the UK who are diagnosed with cancer every day, just like my sister. I'd love you to sponsor me, or join me on the walk.  

Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the Urban Trek has been postponed but I am taking part in Trekstock’s virtual 34 Day Challenge: Keep Calm and Keep Moving to continue my fundraising. I’m pledging to get active everyday for 34 days from 27th April - 30th May 2020 to raise money for the 34 young adults who are diagnosed with cancer every day in the U.K.

About Trekstock: Trekstock, provides wide ranging support to young adults facing all types of cancer around the UK. 34 young adults in their 20s and 30s are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK. Trekstock delivers practical and social support programmes tailored to their needs, to give them a better chance of living well through and beyond cancer. Through exercise support, practical advice and an active online and offline community, our programmes tackle social isolation, improve quality of life and provide young adults with the tools they need to get moving again after cancer puts their life on hold.