Less than One Week

It is less than one week until I cut my hair off for The Little Princess Trust and Cancer Research.

One of the reasons I wanted to raise money for Cancer Research is because of the work they do, without them, years may not have been had and hope may never have existed for some of our family and friends.

My mum and dads best friend died last year of cancer, but it wasn't his first battle with this disease, he first had cancer in the form of a brain tumour about 15 years ago. But with the knowledge, care and dedication of the doctors he survived that tumour.

He eventually took on cancer a second time this time with stomach cancer, again it was removed and with chemo he was able to fight it a second time.

Third time unlucky and he found out he had oesophageal cancer, this is an incresingly common cancer and so it is important to recognise the symptoms.

Finally and so very sadly he found out he had bone cancer, it was this that took his life. But without the research those precious years would not have been had, he wouldn't have got to meet his grandchildren and spend so much time with his wife, family and friends.

So it is with this that I strongly believe in Cancer Research and the good work they do and why I want to raise money.

You can hear more of his journey from his wife in a heart wrenching story on Simon Bates on Smooth

There is still time to sponsor me, I am so close to hitting my £500 target.

http://www.justgiving.com/EllieA

Cutting My Hair Off for Cancer Research

On the 7th September I am going to have my hair cut off to raise money for Cancer Research with my hair being donated to The Little Princess Trust.

So why? In the last year alone six people we know have died from cancer, some very suddenly some after a long fight.

My cousin is still suffering with the after effects of his cancer and there are still so many people we know fighting every day.

This decision has been a tough one, I have never had my hair shorter than a bob before so it is a big step. But I wanted to make a statement in my stand against cancer, not just for those we have lost, but those that are still fighting and in the hope we may one day find a cure.

During the next two months, I intend to raise as much awareness as I can of the different cancers that have affected those lives and how silent they can be.

So in the mean time I will be posting pictures of my hair, hopefully it will be the required length by the 7th September. 

I am off to see Andrew at Sutherland and Barnett tomorrow to discuss what we need to think about, how we are going to cut it etc tomorrow so will hopefully have a better idea of whether we can still do it on the 7th September tomorrow.

If you have a moment and a few pounds to spare I would be so grateful if you could pop on over to my Just Giving page, you can see a picture of me looking daft and read my story and who I am doing it for.

Yummy Mummy Week for Clic Sargent

I had a phone call today asking if I could put some posters up in the shop, sadly I can't as we are online only but I decided that I would do my bit to raise awareness of the week anyway.

It is called Yummy Mummy week and is raising money for Clic Sargent, a brilliant charity for children and young people with cancer.

If you are part of a nursery group then they have a pack for nurseries or if you are part of a coffee morning then please have a look to see if there is anything you can do. It is a great way to raise money for a charity so many of us hope we will never have to call on but sadly so many have to.

Make every day count...

If you are on twitter you have probably seen the sad stories this week of two beautiful boys who have been cruely taken away from their families by cancer.

There probably aren't many people now days who haven't been touched by this dreaded disease, worse still lost someone to it!

Cancer knows no bounds, whether you are young or old, rich or poor it affects us all!

My great aunty nursed her husband at home until he died of stomach cancer, it was awful, they were best friends and to watch someone suffer like that was devastating. My dads best friend died a few years ago of lung cancer, he was very ill and became a shadow of his former self, he was so lovely and I still think about him lots.

But for the sad stories there are the glimmers of hope, one of my mum and dads friends of many years  has had stomach cancer, a brain tumour and oesophagus cancer and is still alive and as well as can be. My cousin has a rare stomach cancer and after treatment to remove it and with scans every six months hopefully he can live a long and happy life.

Finally a friends mum has just recently been given the all clear from ovarian cancer, so there is hope maybe not always but sometimes, just sometimes..

I didn't run the race for life this year but wish I had and feel guilty I didn't, however I did sponsor friends and will be doing it next year for sure.

I sobbed when I read these stories and selfishly hope i'll never have to go through what must be an unimaginable nightmare.

To the families of these brave little boys and anyone else out there who has lost or is battling this dreadful disease my heart goes out to you and for everyone lets keep supporting charities like cancer research, Macmillan nurses who's work is so important.