Strategi Solutions
Strategi's fundraiser for University Hospitals of North Midlands Charity
Fundraising for University Hospitals of North Midlands Charity
Story
Thank you for visiting our JustGiving page.
Each year we focus our annual fundraising efforts by choosing a local charity, we choose our charities very carefully as we love to spread our fundraising love to those who we feel need it the most at a given time.
Our charity this year is UHNM which is the charity of University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, that raises funds for Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford.
We have chosen UHNM as it is currently very close to our hearts. Our Managing Director Rob Fisher’s wife Sue was diagnosed with Hormonal Breast Cancer in November 2022 and is currently undergoing treatment at the Breast Cancer Centre at the Royal Stoke Hospital that includes Chemotherapy, surgery, and Radiotherapy. Sue, our friend, is receiving the most amazing care at the unit and naturally we wanted to be able to give something back as a thank you for all the wonderful support that she has received.
So, why Big Girl Pants? When Sue received her diagnosis, she was naturally upset and worried for what was to come, and one of the first things Sue said to us was ‘I need to put my big girl pants on’. Sue has an army of friends and family who are supporting her through her treatment, we even have pink glittery badges that we all wear in support of Sue every time she attends the hospital for her appointments. Sue’s diagnosis has really emphasized all the hard work and dedication that comes from the fantastic people that work at our hospital and we want to raise as much money as possible for them.
We want to ensure that this money makes a true difference to the Hospital and the people who will be treated there, and therefore have ambitions to donate the money we raise to fund something that will genuinely impact the unit.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
Sue’s cancer journey (in her own words)
I have always been a firm advocate for checks for women’s health and dutifully went for smears and mammograms as and when called. In September 2022, I got called for my routine mammogram which I very nearly re-arranged as it was in the middle of the day and massively inconvenient. On top of that I wasn’t worried because I firmly believed that cancer wouldn’t happen to me…… right??? Wrong!! I’m so glad I didn’t re-arrange, as in October 2022 I was diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer following that routine mammogram. Unfortunately, it had spread to my lymph nodes which meant that I needed a course of chemotherapy, a full mastectomy, followed by a round of radiotherapy. This was a massive shock to my husband and I and it was a lot to take in. We worried about the impact on family and friends, particularly our young son and the impact this would have on him. We needn’t have worried; everyone has been amazing. Treatment is now underway, and I have tried to remain positive throughout this journey. In part, this is due to the love and support I have received from friends and family, and my own mental attitude. Having treatment was never in question and I doubt I would have remained so positive without the support of everyone around me. The Breast Care team at UHNM have been amazing every step of the way and I am so pleased to be able to support this fabulous team to help more men and women who find themselves on this rollercoaster, with no option to get off until it stops!