Hertfordshire Breast Unit Appeal

My Story

I was diagnosed 7 years ago with breast cancer the journey home believe it or not I never spoke a word I had my surgery at the QE11 by Mr Peter Crane the breast surgeon and then went on to have 20 sessions of radiotherapy at Mount Vernon. I felt the need to give something back to those who had cared for me and to the breast surgeon who saved my life. It was while I was sitting in the corridor waiting for one of my check ups a young lady ran past me sobbing her heart out with her partner running behind she just ran out of the hospital I felt very sad she had no where to go and a bit angry that in this 21st century we had to put up with these conditions so when I got home I thought what we need is privacy a place to discuss things through and somewhere to cry and although you did not want to be there it should be a pleasant place to be, at that time when I was diagnosed the breast care nurse was on holiday there was no support group there was no one to talk to about this disease I had just been diagnosed with it was a very lonely and frightening experience so with some other ladies we founded a support group.

I wrote to the chairman of the NHS trust and said I think we should have a proper unit for patients with breast cancer and I would like to help. I had a meeting with her and she agreed I could fundraise to help build a dedicated breast unit she asked me how I was going to raise the funds I told her I have not got a clue as I have never done anything like this before nor have I ever been on a committee but there is one thing for sure I will raise the money for this unit they set me a target which was £250,000 which I thought was possible. (as I got near my target the trust asked me if I could raise £500,000 I thought they were trying to get rid of me so I just agreed).

My Husband was not keen on me doing this he wanted to sell up and retire but I did not want to let cancer change my life {if only I had realized then} and he said he knows if it is what I want to do he knows no one will be able to stop me.

So the very first thing I did I asked my Husband to go and knock on Posh Spice Mums house and ask if she could give us some things to raise money on {as my husband used to sweep her chimney] he said he could not possibly do that but I managed to convince him to go.