Alexia Walks All Over Cancer

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page. This month and next, I’m walking 10,000 steps a day throughout to help beat cancer sooner. Cancer crashed into my life just before my 35th birthday. Nothing could’ve prepared me for that moment, 9th May 2016 at the Breast Services clinic of Charing Cross Hospital, when I’d just been told by the doctor that my lump looked “cancerous.” I was shocked. Frozen. Alone. And blinded by my flood of tears. Cancer has turned my life upside down, in every way you can and can’t imagine. It’s as if my life were a thousand marbles in a jar, then cancer came and fiercely shook it until turning it upside down for all the marbles to fall, hit and scatter on the floor. Life after cancer feels like being blind, trying to find those marbles and having no one around to help. It’s every type of fear staring me in the face, holding me down. The fear that rises after the dust has settled from the whirlwind of cancer treatment is far tougher than the physical part. From the start, it's a tumultuous emotional roller coaster with the lowest of lows feeling frightened, lonely, lost, desperate, numb and completely in denial that I had cancer (even now, I struggle to believe it). But...there's also been highs which I'm grateful for and have given me the strength and hope to move forward including the amazing dogs Winnie and Uma, and their families, whom I met on Borrow My Doggie. I first met Winnie just after my second chemo when I was looking for someone to keep me company throughout treatment since most of my time was spent alone at home. If it wasn’t for her needing her walks, I’d barely leave my flat. Winnie helped me get the bit of exercise and fresh air that my body needed. But most of all, Winnie has given me love, joy and comfort! Most days when I didn’t feel well from chemo and radiotherapy, Winnie would be curled up next to me on the couch, giving me the TLC and reassurance that I needed. She's brilliant at picking up my moods because when I've felt particularly sad or overwhelmed and crying, she’d jump into my lap, giving me kisses and quickly making me laugh. The power of puppy love continued when I met Uma, the Cocker Spaniel, who's happy spirits are contagious and has further helped me to stay that little bit active thanks to her lively walks. I genuinely can’t imagine what it would’ve been like to face my battle with cancer without these doggies. They’ve made me smile during the darkest times and continue to support my mental and physical wellbeing with their healing power. So there's no one better than Winnie and Uma to join me in Walk All Over Cancer and fund life-saving research. We're taking these steps to - help pull me out of my 'mental cave' and strengthen my body so I'm not always so out of breath and tired - to draw up my confidence and getting me to believe in 'me' again, so I can better live this 'post cancer treatment chapter' by seizing opportunities and sail past the bumpy road of recovery/hormone therapy easier And finally, MOST IMPORTANTLY, Winnie, Uma and I are walking to raise awareness for *all* cancers so research for better and more treatment options can be found for more obscure cancers like my mom's (which left her little choice but to be a vegetable) as well as the more common cancers like mine and my grandma's - breast cancer - which affect the people we love everyday. Please join us in spirit by sponsoring our walk with a donation. Every little helps in making a big difference. Thank you x