Rebecca's Giving Page

Being diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 21 yrs in 2003 was devastating for me and my family. After receiving 12 months of intense treatment, and years of follow up appointments - i finally beat this disease at a time when the survival rate was so low for women my age. I class myself as a rare gem for surviving hahahaha! Survival rates were low because treatment was still at an uncertain stage, but also it's being caught too late! So lady's - let's talk smear test...... I totally understand how undignified it feels to have the procedure done, but it really is 2 minutes of feeling embarrassed that could save your whole life! Trust me, even through the treatment is so much better - you still don't want to have to go through it ..... so please BOOK YOUR SMEAR TEST TODAY. And Gents, if your reading this - please support and encourage your lady to get it done. My journey was the hardest, but most proudest time of my life so far, and something i will never forget.I would say it made me a better stronger person. Facing my battle means i'm not afraid to now to face any challenge that comes my way as nothing could be worse then not knowing your own fate! Fast forward to 2018 - i'm a healthy young lady, with a boxer puppy in replace of a baby (treatment meant i couldn't conceive naturally) loving life. Honestly he's just as bad as having a human baby! However, my journey with fighting cancer hasn't ended. In November 2018 - my dad was diagnosed with skin cancer, which 4 months on lead to a diagnoses of brain cancer, so it had travelled in a short space of time. My dad is doing an amazing job at fighting this battle head on (excuse the pun lol) and is responding really well to his treatment. Shout out to the NHS staff for putting up with him! lol You can tell where i got my strength to fight this disease, and it makes me so proud that i'm able to support my dad the same way he supported me all those years before. We really are in it together now. In the space of time between 2003 when i was diagnosed and when my dad was in 2018 - I've been amazed about how advanced treatment now is, and how its much more human friendly, allowing people to live an almost normal life - unlike my treatment which meant days at a time in hospital. That really wouldn't be possible without everyone's donations and the work of cancer research, so a huge thank you from me and my dad. So for now - it's time for me to give something back, that's why i'm taking part in this walk. To continue to support and help people, to get a better life and so they don't have to suffer the way i had too.