A Big Thank You

This week saw me cut off my hair for Cancer Research and The Little Princess Trust, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of so many people and businesses.

I wanted to thank these companies and people on my blog and tell you to go and check them out.

First of all a huge thank you to the person who made it all possible, Andrew at Sutherland and Barnett, without his support and honesty I don’t think I would have gone through with it. I knew he had his reservations but I love my hair and without his skill and nerves we wouldn’t have made it.

Secondly to the wonderful and talented Jenni from Make Up By Jenni, without her I wouldn’t have had the confidence I needed to face the cameras and the lights of the salon. I felt as good as I did on my wedding day and her support and generosity was more than I ever could have asked for.

Sam from Inphase Media/Sam Rushmer Photography, not only did you capture the day but you were a great support and kept me focussed on what I was doing. The pictures are amazing and I cannot thank you enough for capturing both mine and my family's journey through this experience.

A huge thanks to my family and friends, especially my husband whose support was unwavering and my beautiful children whose response couldn't have been better.

And finally to everyone who sponsored me and helped me raise over £700 for Cancer Research, I can only hope that it goes someway to helping the fight against this awful disease.

There is still time to donate via my justgiving page.

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.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow...Maybe?

I have never had a great relationship with my hair, it's frizzy and does what it wants most of the time. One side will be nicely curled under the other swishing outwards like I was caught in a strong gust of wind.

So when yet another friend of the family died from cancer I wondered if cutting my hair off would not only set me free of my hair burden but also give me the perfect opportunity to raise money for Cancer Research and Macmillan Nurses.

If it was a really close family member that was ill with this most hideous of diseases I don't think I would think twice about it but they are friends, some we know well some we have 'known' for years but not seen in a while.

So would I look silly? Cutting my hair off for a cause that hasn't actually affected my life directly?

I have run the race for life a few times and whilst I enjoyed I wanted to do something different that could maybe raise a lot of money, whilst doing something I kinda want to do.

So would you do it? Am I being silly? I am not the most confident of people but this is about research too, to protect the ones I love from anything the future could hold!

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.