Kathryn's Pretty Muddy

I’m doing, both “The Pretty Muddy” and “Race for Life” on the 13th & 14th of July. This page is for my Pretty Muddy, which I will be taking part in with my Auntie. At the end of last year, I found out that my Nanna had been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. After 2 operations, with a consequential course of radiotherapy, 5 days a week, for 3 weeks, we are now awaiting her results in August. Seeing a strong, motherly figure battle with a disease, which will diagnose 1 in 2 people in their lifetimes, is petrifying and surreal in the most negative way; you never believe that it will actually happen to you. The signs of cancer can be so minor, yet it's repercussions are heartbreaking. Not only is the treatment physically exhausting, but the effect on the individual's mentality can be draining. My Nanna has the best outlook on life, and her temperament inspires me everyday to be grateful for my health, family, friends and everything else that I take for granted on a daily basis. Every Thursday my Nanna continues to have her hair done (a luxury she's practiced since before I was born). Even throughout her long course of radiotherapy, she's still managed to weave her cherished hair-appointments into her weekly life, and to me, this proves that never ever will cancer define you or stop you from doing your favourite pastimes. It might bring your mood so far down, and that is completely justifiable, but showing your determination of continuing simple chores and activities, is a huge point proven. My Nanna refers to it as "a bump in the road" which probably prompts her enthusiastic, optimistic, cheerful attitude. I know that I wouldn't be able to deal with it half as well as she does. It's important to raise money for this charity, so that all treatment methods can become more specific, research and knowledge can broaden and the extent of awful side-effects (from the treatment) can be reduced. It's one of the most challenging, if not THE most challenging situation that my Nanna or any other patient will ever be faced with. As an onlooker you can feel helpless. Nobody deserves to deal with cancer, but take one trip into a cancer clinic, and you will see firsthand how many people persevere, every single day, and if you saw them in the street, you'd never realise what a battle they were fighting. Over the past 40 years, the survival rate of cancer patients has doubled, and only research can improve these statistics in another 40 years. I'm sure everyone knows at least one person in their life, who's been affected by cancer, therefore giving to cause like this, is sentimental for everyone. Every amount donated will increase the likelihood of a cancer patient receiving good news. Here are some example of how any type of donation directly goes towards research: - £5 = supply a research lab with essential chemicals. - £15 = help to tackle early diagnosis and prevention. - £30 = help improve treatments for patients with lung cancer by covering the cost of a trial. - £50 = if 11 people donated this much (£550) this would buy a next generation DNA sequencing experiment. - £100 = if 4 people donated this much (£400) this would cover the cost of running "Cancer Chat" for 1 day; helping many people through a difficult time. We are raising money by running the Race for Life, in Harrogate on Sunday 14th July. Every single donation obviously means so much to us, seeing as it's a charity that is aiding research to help someone in our own life, who means so much to us. Thank you very much to every donor! 💗