Cancer is happening right now, and with a push from my work colleagues this is why I'm taking part in a Race for Life 5k run to raise money and continue to save lives.
I have recently been through the nightmare of seeing my best friend/sister-in-law fight this horrible disease. At the young age of 26 Hayley, a wonderful best friend, daughter, sister, auntie & fiancé, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. A fairly rare form of blood cancer, a cancer that attacks our white blood cells - our immune system.
Although she had the greatest support from her family and friends, she explained to me that there is no lonelier place than the place she found myself in.
But the one thing she had to cling on to was that the treatment she would receive for her cancer was incredibly successful, it was proven and it had a a very high survival rate.
She endured 6 months of chemotherapy, going every other week for her 4 hour slot to have the 4 different drugs pumped in to her and then had 5 weeks of radiotherapy every single day.
That time was gruelling, incredibly painful, long and the hardest thing she ever had to do. But, it worked! It put her in remission and it saved her life.
Hayley, myself and everyone that loves her can’t thank the scientists, doctors and nurses who dedicate so much time and effort in to the breakthrough research for cancer treatment enough.
A message from Hayley:
“I am lucky to say that I survived because the cancer I had has had the time and resources spent on it to find the best treatment. Some others are not so lucky so this is why we need to continue to donate to the research so others can have an outcome like mine.
I have two wishes. The first being they find a cure for this nasty, invasive, leech of a disease. Failing that, my second wish would be that they can find less evasive treatments. Treatments that are less painful, that leave you with less long lasting side effects, treatments where you do not lose your beloved long locks that are a part of who you are, treatments that allow you to live as normal a life as possible and not have to put your life on hold.”
This may not be the longest of races but it is the perfect platform to continue creating awareness that 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime & the importantance to keep raising money.
Sadly like many I have loved ones who weren’t able to beat Cancer but Hayley is an inspiration & a true example of what the money you donate can do to continue this important research & beat cancer sooner!
The funds raised from incredible people like you will support thousands of scientists, doctors and nurses to accelerate progress in the fight against over 200 cancer types.
Every little helps and I can’t tell you how appreciative the people fighting this horrible disease & their loved ones are of donations to fund research in to finding treatments to help save their lives 👍🏼
Donating through this page is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with Cancer Research UK.
