We are a group of people who have become friends by attending a Bootcamp which is run by the amazing Angela Bliss of Bliss Fitness. One of our bootcampers (Dee Stapley) was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of last year, she has had an operation and is about to undergo the remainder of her treatment. We are all behind Dee and we know that with her determination and amazing spirit she will be able to get her training in and join us for the hike on the 10th September.   Here are a few words from the lady who has inspired us to take up this challenge.

"My name is Dee Stapley, I’m 62 years old, fit and active.
Online classes twice a week, 1 to 1 PT session weekly, bootcamp and walking up to 12kms a day.  In December 2021 I had a recall following a regular mammogram for further investigations. My initial reactions swayed from was a blocked duct or something completely harmless to “OMG its full blown cancer” but I couldn’t feel anything abnormal. The further investigations included 3D Mammogram, ultrasound scan and biopsy of the lump that was low and deep in my left breast, but small.  The wait for results was the longest 7 days I have ever experienced, my emotions were all over the place and until I had results, I didn’t want to scare family and friends unnecessarily especially around Christmas. The call came and it was a Grade 3 aggressive invasive 12mm ductal cancer with micro papillary features ER/PR positive and HER2 positive. I think my first reaction was “Oh F***” then I cried and cried, my emotions were all over the place, I was frightened and very very scared, there were so many questions to be answered when I saw the consultant 6 days later, and what a long 6 days that was.                                                                                                    I was told that I would need a lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy on 4^th January, in just 7 days’ time. I was reassured that as the lump was small and it had been caught early the long-term prognosis was good. That still didn’t stop me having another excruciatingly long 7 days waiting for the op and a negative PCR test to enable the Op to go ahead. Again emotions running wild, plus now I had to tell people, family and friends in the most positive way I could as I didn’t need bucket loads of sympathy which would only make me cry even more. My amazing husband and I needed positivity and support from them, which we got and are still getting.

Op day came and went, home on the same day to start the healing  process. Lots of sleep, painkillers and my new daily exercise routine (shoulder mobility exercises). A few hiccups along the road to recovery including 6 visits in 14 days to get a seroma drained by the amazing team of Breast Care Nurses at YDH. Now I’m on hormone treatment for the next 7 years to stop me producing Oestrogen, watch out everyone menopause number 2 in progress 😊 and waiting for two weeks of radiotherapy which hopefully will be at the beginning of March.  Back fighting fit by beginning of June and ready to join the team training walks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                I’m still on an emotional rollercoaster and sometimes feel my life is out of my control but I know that I have been extremely lucky and can’t extol the benefits of regular checking for lumps and screening.

I am also amazed that I have inspired my bootcamp team to do
the Jurassic Mighty Hike, so I really had no option but to join them. It’s
going to be a challenge getting fit enough to do it once radiotherapy is
completed. Back fighting fit by beginning of June and ready to join the team training walks 🤞 I know team Bliss Fitness and The Stapley
Striders will be there for me and support me through the coming weeks and months. Thank you to all of you, family and friends and to everyone who sponsors us for this amazing charity, which was founded in the Somerset market town I live in, I walk past two blue plaques regularly recognising Douglas Macmillan regularly.