And the Oscar for another year of health dramas goes to.......

Hello everyone

If it wasn't for the fact I have/had illnesses I'd believe I was suffering from Munchausen syndrome  - boy you couldn't script everything that's gone on with me in the last too many years!

I've been very quiet here on my blog this year, a couple of reasons for this.....the first is my lack of drive in organising charity events after a very disappointing year last year what with the Zumba etc . Although conquering Ben Nevis was a personal high! I still puff my chest up with pride knowing I conquered the highest point in the UK and overall was happy with my time especially with all the issues I had with cramps in my right calf and both quads ( I tell you trying to slide uphill on packed down slippy snow was a challenge all on it's own! )

The second and still ongoing is problems I've been having again this year with my own health ( it feels like a never ending battle some days ). It's not been the best of times and I have tried very hard to stay upbeat about it, and the majority of time I succeed....there are however days when even I the ever optimist fail!

I also think earlier this year I came the closest ever to a breakdown, I was so very stressed with so many things and I really struggled to get through it on my own - but somehow I did, still not sure how, one thing I learned is alcohol and Facebook really don't mix when you are at a personal low - I let loose a bit more than I would have wanted too, but I can't change that fact and actually feel sorry for those friends on there that actually witnessed it.....only positive? it would have been worse in person.

The causes of the near breakdown? major stress of serious financial worries, the house not selling and coming to the realization I couldn't afford to live in it or to move out. I was totally trapped in this nightmare cycle of depending on my sister to bail me out, my mum and sister helping to buy food for me.....house viewing after house viewing not reaping anything. Trying to sort out some house maintenance that hadn't been done since I'd been diagnosed with the cancer and consequent treatments and major health issues I'd suffered with the cancer prevention drugs. Knowing I was on my own after the break up of my relationship of 14 years, no-one to help take the burden ( there again better to be on your own than with someone who disrespects you for years as it turned out ), trying always to down play my anxiety and stress levels to everyone because they all know I'm not supposed to get stressed because of the cancer. Not been able to find a job because no-one was willing to give me a chance even though I was applying for jobs well within my skill base because of my health history....they were scared I'd take lots of time off work, and even maybe be diagnosed with the cancer again....it was dark times indeed for me - my self esteem and self confidence was kicked and battered around the job market day after day. So I finally took control of that aspect of my life and started my own business, this was a real turning point because I stopped the depressing cycle of rejection.

One of the biggest kicks in the teeth was the buyer who pulled out one hour before contracts were to be exchanged - this was after four months of pandering to her every whim in order to get rid of the house. It was the straw that broke the camels back as it were and nearly completely pushed me over the edge. It got messy because I couldn't cope with the knowledge the house selling process had to start over again, and it dropped me into total despair wondering how I was to survive until it finally sold.

I think I averaged about three hours of sleep a night and that was broken sleep. Tough times indeed.

In amongst the anxiety and stress of the house and the financial worries my health was once again causing me problems - no matter how hard I try to get on an even keel something happens that causes me to slip backwards. Not that this stops me from getting up again to push forward once more....but it is tiring to keep doing so. The aspect I have always found the most difficult is not being able to exercise or train properly or at all. Anyone who knows me understands how much I crave the outdoors, I love been out and about, and really enjoy pushing myself to better my time,score or whatever measurement I've set myself. I thrive on setting myself really tough challenges, it's what drives me when I'm not feeling my best, so for an illness to make that impossible I find the toughest to cope with.

The end of October 2013 saw me get what I at first thought was a stitch after completing a training session with my cousin Paul - he was putting me through my paces with my cage fight training ( no I'm not planning on competing, but the training is bloody great! ) and as I finished my session I got a stitch we laughed about it and said luckily I'd finished and not just started. I had a glass of water but the pain hadn't gone when I'd finished it.....so I figured it was a slight muscle strain. I text Paul the next morning cancelling my session for the day saying I'd take the weekend off to recover and would see him Monday.

Around 2 am on the Sunday morning I was woken up with the most awful explosion of pain in my right side, it took my breath away and I struggled to turn off my right side to my back. I did it eventually and after a tremendous effort managed to get myself over to the edge of the bed and into a sitting position - I was panting very shallow breaths and the pain had not eased at all, this had taken me about 45 minutes to get sat up. I spent the rest of the early hours of the morning shuffling around upstairs and the pain finally eased enough to allow me to sit down around 7 am.

I was in lots of discomfort all day Sunday and didn't even manage to go downstairs to make a cup of tea - well that says it all - me, the constant tea drinker! My sister Debbie rang me in the afternoon and knew straight away something was wrong, I refused to let her take me to A&E and said if it hadn't eased off the following day I'd phone the doctor. I did phone the doctor the next day and so started the investigations into my flank pain for the second time in 2013 when I finally saw them.

November see's a new problem rear its head for me, I experienced some spotting and vaginal bleeding, this in itself was a shock seen as I had been kicked into a premature menopause in the Aug of 2009 by the CMF chemotherapy. I took it as a one off but when just over 10 days later I experienced yet another episode I made an appointment to see my GP. The surgery made a referral for an internal ultrasound to check what was going on as well as scans for my left and right flank pains ( which have been ongoing for 2 years now ). So it was a case of coping with the pains in my flanks and recording any further bleeding and for how long it went on for.

I had my scan date which was Dec 23rd - this showed that I had in fact got gallstones ( runs in the family ) and a thickening in the uterus wall ( the opposite of what normally happens when you are post menopausal apparently ) . The scan didn't show anything up regarding the left flank pain. I couldn't get back to see my GP and where we went from there until Jan of this year.

So 2 referrals were made, the gallbladder and the uterus wall thickening. I saw the consultant about my bleeding/uterus issue in the Feb and he decided to do a hysteoroscopy under general anaesthetic to see what was going on. By this time I had had 8 separate bleeding episodes. I was scheduled for this procedure as a day case at the end of Feb. The good news from the hyseoroscopy was it showed no signs of cancer and the bleeding was put down to an infection. I'm happy to report I've had no bleeding since the procedure. He also said the thickening in the wall of my uterus was nothing to be concerned about as everything looked fine.

I finally got a consultation about my gallstone problem ( this had been playing me up badly since October ) early April, so as soon as I sat down I was told they would be definitely removing my gallbladder but there was a problem. I asked what that was, only to be told my ultrasound scan from Dec had been lost ( how do you lose an electronic scan???? ) - I said you mean someone has deleted it off the system?! He said he needed to have another done before I could be scheduled for surgery and he would make me another clinic appointment for 6 weeks time, and for me to make sure I'd had the scan done before that - I felt like ripping my hair out,I've not been able to train or exercise since October and I'm climbing the walls! I asked if the pain in my left was caused by the gallstones/gallbladder to which he said no way. This was the exact opposite of what I wanted to hear. I said if you know you're taking it out, do it without the scan, he said he couldn't he needed to see my bile duct.....I said have a look while you're in there! he started laughing and said I can't. I tried my best to get him to just do it, he wouldn't saying he really needed to see if there was any damage to my bile duct and to also check my liver because of my history of cancer. So my cajoling failed but I can say I gave it my best!

He asked me why a consultant I'd been under in the Jan '13 had signed me off without getting to the bottom of all the pains I'd been presenting for so long ( left, center and right side ) I told him he'd have to phone and ask  him because I didn't know......I told him I'd basically been told to get on and live with it, he wasn't impressed at all ( that makes the two of us! ) He asked me if I'd had the camera up my bum - to which I said no I haven't with some indignation ha ha!, he told me I must without fail get back to my GP for a referral....he was convinced the pain is been caused by bowel issues ( something else to add to the never ending list of issues )

So feeling very put out I left with another 6 week delay because some numpty had accidently deleted my Dec scan results - I really felt it would never end. It was a long wait but I finally had the scan redone to which the radiologist told me they were big and mobile ( oh I know love from the discomfort I've been suffering for months ). She showed me one of the stones, it was at the top of my gallbladder and was mobile - it was the size of a grape...so yes, pretty big, she said my gallbladder was full of them. She also scanned down my left flank and to be honest it was even sorer than my gallbladder and when she was pressing down it was taking my breath away. She told me my kidney looked fine but as she carried on scanning my side she said again it was looking like classic bowel issues ( whatever that is ). An ultrasound cannot see anything in your bowel because it's too dense.

So I was back into clinic to be told the surgery would be 6-8 weeks away, I groaned and moaned saying I'd already had to endure a 6 week delay due to someone's mistake over my original scan, I was however sent up to the pre op ward to at least get all that out of the way only to be told they couldn't do it and I would have to return in 2 weeks time. So off I tootles home. The following day they phoned me saying I needed to have me pre op much sooner than my appointed time, I asked when, they said Friday of that week - so back I goes on Friday.

I was taken in for day surgery on June 20th ( 4 weeks after last consult ) for keyhole gallbladder removal. How far has medicine come when you go into hospital first thing in the morning and come home the afternoon of the same day minus an organ!! amazing stuff really. I was told 2 weeks of absolutely nothing and thereafter a slow build up to normal activities. In reality I did nothing for 4 days ( hey I'm self employed and 2 weeks was never a possibility ) then was back at work with lots of help for the first week and then back out on my own thereafter.....I've been a little slower than normal and I know I've had something done.....but must say I'm very happy with my progress.

I'm not 100% and I'm having various problems which I'm not sure if they are part of the recovery process or something that needs addressing, I will get onto it soon. I've on and off been violently sick and am suffering with diarrhea after food consumption every time. I have a pain in my back/side more often than not and what feels like an air bubble in the general vicinity of where the gallbladder was. Anyway if it doesn't settle soon I'll go back to see my GP - I have been once about it, around 2 weeks after my surgery....she didn't seem overly concerned at the time. Time will tell.

I have just got my referral through to start the process off with the left flank pain which I hopefully will find out what has been causing it for the last 2 years and more importantly that they will be able to treat and get rid of. I'm optimistic an end could be in sight for this!

And to my last medical drama of the year so far! On July 3rd I went to the breast clinic for my 6 monthly check and also my annual mammogram. This day marked my 5 year clear of cancer and I was hoping for my release from the hospital. ( I know people who were discharged at 3 years ) Now it's all very confusing for me because when I was there for my check up in Jan, they told me it was no way near a definite that I would be given the all clear and sent on my way in July and there were many variables to be taken into account,  when I questioned this, all they said was it was to be discussed and I would find out in due course. I still don't understand the reasoning or why he was so cryptic about it.

  The doctor was giving me my physical and as I pulled away in pain ( I have acute pain in the area around where they did the sentinal lympth node biopsy ) he said to me I've felt a lump, have you felt a lump? my answer was no. I was told I'd be having my mammogram as normal but would require an ultrasound to check out the lump, unfortunately it couldn't be that day because of how busy they were ( clinic day has normally around 3/4 different clinics going at the same time ) and I'd get a call arranging for me to come in. I had my mammogram and left the hospital for the day.

I got a call the following Tuesday to go for my ultrasound on the Thursday ( last week ), I went and had the ultrasound done and can confirm there is a mass or lump there but it isn't a recurrence of my breast cancer. ( unofficially told by radiologist ) The mass or thickened breast tissue is most likely scarring from the radiation therapy. I will  be called back to the hospital for them to officially tell me the ultrasound was clear and I'm hoping that they will then discharge me......guess I'll have to wait and see on that front.


But regardless of whether the hospital discharge me or not, the fact is I've made 5 years clear of cancer and for that I'm celebrating my life!

 It has been at times a real tough and frustrating slog - especially when I on the cancer prevention drugs, I suffered so badly with the side effects for 2 whole years with greatly reduced mobility and a poor quality of life, for goodness sakes I could hardly get out of bed on my own and dress myself. So the decision that took me a year to make - to stop the prevention drugs 3 years early was the right one for me. And even through some quite heated discussions with the medical profession who tried to get me back on them, I stood my ground. I told them I understand the risks I've put myself under but feel totally vindicated at the fact I' m now living my life and not been forced to watch it pass on by.

I climbed Ben Nevis last year - the highest point in the United Kingdom and regardless of my current health issues, my plan is to climb Mount.Kilimanjaro next year.

I will always endeavour to set and complete challenges, to live my life to the utmost everyday and try to get through the dodgy ones with humility and humour. I motivate myself by keeping myself positive. YOLO has in some instances been taken and made a negative by individuals who will use it for an excuse for bad or poor behaviour, a reason to not accept responsibility for themselves.

Well I claim it back for everyone who battles and fights on a daily basis because some of us are lucky enough to fully understand the You Only Live Once outlook on life - I embrace my day and thank my lucky stars I've got another one. The saying stop and smell the roses - try it someday, you'll be amazed how enriched your day and life will be. 

I'm positively looking forward to my health issues getting sorted this year and hoping for nothing more than onwards and upwards in my future. I will continue to try my hardest to make this happen.

Until next time

Tracy 

Happy New Year everyone

Hello and Happy New Year to you all

The first post of the year is to let you know that the first part of the year for definite will be very quiet from a WoC point of view.I have decided that we will not be planning and organising any events for a while and that WoC will be taking a step back for the time been.We had a very busy year from a planning and background point of view last year. Has anyone who follows the blog knows - an immense amount of time & effort were put into the first six months of the year planning and organising the Zumba and consequent World record attempt only for a forced delay to occur. We didn't have a great year regardless of great effort put in. It was a very stressful and disappointing time for WoC's ambassadors and myself.

I am going to concentrate over the next few months on getting myself right and back to sustained health and good level of fitness. I was diagnosed with Gallstones on Dec 23rd whilst having some scans. There is also some other investigations going on and I will be sure to inform you if anything comes of them. I decided to put Woc on the back burner for now, because every time I start to get going with my fitness, something happens and I get knocked back. So I want to stop this continuous one step forward, two steps back and finally put it to bed once and for all has they say. I have some great challenges this year and will not be able to succeed if I don't get it right.  

I think one of the problems is how every busy it was last year from a general health point of view. I have been run down and have had recurrences of various infections over the last few months or so. On top of working full time I was doing two part time college courses and many hours were spent on WoC planning events such as the Zumba.

So because I have some big endurance events coming up this year, I have decided to get myself sorted out and that means not spending time on WoC. I will be posting how well my training is going when I actually can get started with it ( hopefully I will be seeing the consultant shortly for the Gallstone issue ). I as soon as possible need to get training, it will be a heavy schedule which is another reason for WoC going on the back burner. I am really conscious of not overloading myself again this year.

Details of the challenges I have already got on this year can be found on the blog. So many wonderful things are either planned or in the process of happening this year. The house sale is due to be completed end of March. So I will be busy sorting out my new living arrangements. My new business venture will be ready for full launch around the beginning of April.

I will get back into blogging on a regular basis - and this one is scary....I will be practicing video blogging ( yikes! ).....I really don't like being in front of the camera, am much happier behind it for sure!. But I want to do a video blog diary when I climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in September. I doubt I'll feel upto writing a blog daily while climbing, and I know for sure I won't remember everything to write at a later date. I'd like if the team are willing to get a little from them daily too.....to see what their perspective is of the days events. So I need to practice filming on my camera....trying to get used to it so it doesn't sound/seem to bad when it comes to the real thing on the mountain.

Until next time
Tracy

Old year coming to an end - bright new 2014 to look forward to!

Hello everyone

As I look out of my window and see a grey start to the day up here in Yorkshire, I think to myself, well that's the only thing that's grey around here. Today I'm going to be signing on for hopefully the last time because I have an appointment with my business mentor this coming Thursday and that should hopefully point me in the right direction for funding and a possible grant while starting up my new business.

I will be out posting contact details for Paws to Pavement today and all this week in the areas I will be covering. I am very confident about this venture and really looking forward to it. A really happy and positive way to end what has been a  frustrating  and very tiring 2013. I am more than happy to see it pass into the past!

I'm off to have a cuppa with my wonderfully fun and courageous friend Katie Noonookes Stirk who is not having the easiest of times right now, but is coping really well with her current health situation with great grace and humour. Katie was one of the best things to come from my job earlier this year, a genuinely true friend and a brilliant ambassador for War on Cancer....it proves that great friendship is not borne from the length of time you've known someone. I love this lass to bits and wish her the speediest of recoveries and the best of health and happiness for the future.

2014 - Looking forward I feel this will finally be my year - I have waited a long time for this! Having had problems with a severe physical injury ( crutches for 5 months ), previous employers and my own serious health issues ongoing since 2007.... I giddily look towards 2014 with great anticipation.

This is the year I secure my long term employment by striking out on my own, where previous employers cannot make life impossible by the dubious demands placed on me, where they can't abuse their power, where I can't be not even considered for a job role because of subtle discrimination due to my past health because I won't be making myself feel ineffectual and redundant - Because I know I still have plenty to offer!

This is the year I get the all clear from the breast cancer

This is the year my house finally sells and I get to be able to move on with my life

This is the year I finally complete the challenge I set myself while recovering from the Chemotherapy and Pneumonia back in 2010 - Mount Kilimanjaro....I AM coming to get you!

This is the year I do the London Moonwalk again with a much improved time over the 10 hours it took me last time...and with not being ill on the night! ( after securing my place )

And this is the year I will have my first holiday since Iceland in Jan 2010.

2014 IS GOING TO BE MY YEAR!

Climbing Ben Nevis was most definitely a major achievement for this year - a massive positive to cancel out some big negatives - such as the Zumba letdown.

Keep living life to the fullest you possibly can, I know I try my hardest to do so.

Until next time

Tracy

Ladies night November 30th - last event of 2013

Hello there

Well it's been a very long time since I last did a blog, it has been a very tough year in so many different ways.

We have our Ladies night coming up in just over a weeks time, it will be WoC's last event of 2013. We have the fantastic and very funny Mr Steve Haze a comedian from Blackpool who is not only going to do a segment of hilarious stand up comedy on the night, but has offered his wonderful wit to compare our whole evening! We thank you very much Steve and look forward to having an aching jaw from all the smiling and laughing we will experience on the night.

So ladies, come join us on our last venture of 2013, where the order of the night is fun,fun,fun! So as well as our comedian of the night Steve Haze, we have the superb local band Shotgun Opera who are going to blow your socks off with some fantastic live music, a mixture of their own music to showcase themselves with a mixture of covers to make sure you rock the night away.

We have also our DJ for the evening Stuart Fletcher who in between all the live action will be making sure your feet are still tapping away to the beat!

Our West Yorkshire Fire Service will be there with some delectable firemen to make sure your glasses stay full and your needs are attended to! - you will also be able to purchase their 2014 calendar which they will be selling on the night.

There will be a " photo booth" if you'd like to get photo memories of your fun filled night also.

We will be selling our charity bands and also there will be a raffle with some great prizes to be won. Our most wonderful friend and superb chef Damian Collinson is going make a sublime meal for two for the winner of one of the raffle prizes....a meal for two at the Victoria Hotel in Bradford! Thank you Damian for this fantastic raffle prize! There are plenty of other prizes to be won too! 

It has been a really hard year with many disappointments, the hardest by far as you know was the the Zumba, for it having to delay it until 2014. This decision was made only two weeks before it was due to happen, the reason I was desperately trying to get things sorted.....it wasn't to be and we were left with no choice but to seek a new venue. We were badly let down by the Venue owners. It also meant we had no chance of getting all the requirements and paperwork done to receive the safety certificate in time for this year before the risks of bad weather became too big.

It was really hard for those of us who had worked so hard to get this event up and running, six months of planning, getting sponsorship, sorting details to make it a success.....afterall we were going for the World record.

I must say it has been very difficult to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and get on with it. So much energy and time was used for the Zumba, we were all working full-time and putting up to twenty hours a week in to the Zumba event also. We will pick this up in the new year and start over.....we have to get the momentum rolling again and the interest of the public - we at WoC are confident we will get the World record and put on an even bigger and better event than it would have been at the Bradford Bulls.

Onto more recent things, healthwise, I've had a bit of a mixed bag again this year, but am still determined to beat it all.I have had and still am having major frustrations trying to find a job, subtle discrimination happens and although most of the time you don't get told that they won't even consider you because they are frightened and put off because you are surviving cancer, that they are scared you'll get re-diagnosed or take lots of time off sick, it happens. I have been applying for jobs that are well within my remit, jobs I am over skilled for, the reasons are I'm not chasing a career, I don't want a management role....I just want to work and earn a living, earn enough so I can really live my life and not just exist. It's tough after working your whole life to struggle to find work when you are more than willing, and to have to survive on £71.20 per week. It is really tough to someone even like me who normally is a really positive person not to get down with it all. I have found with every knock back that has happened this year - that I am in fact tired....tired of having to over justify myself as a real candidate for the job, that I can more than contribute to the working environment and rightly deserve a chance. I'm tired that all the months of hard work for an amazing charity event such as the Zumba collapsed in the eleventh hour because of the whim and total disinterest of a small group of individuals. In a nutshell I've found 2013 to be just that - tiring.

 My cousin Stuart  has suggested I write a book about my ups and downs of living in remission and the frustrations faced each and everyday. He and his wife Jane ( also fighting and surviving cancer ) have said they will help in any way they can, including helping to get it published. I have said I will have a go, not sure if I will be able to, writing isn't really my forte and I'm unsure if anyone will find it interesting. I have been assured it will be and should inspire others who may be in the same kind of situation. I've been told I inspire on a daily basis and a book would be no different - I will let you judge for yourselves if I manage to write it, they after all are quite biased about me!

I have also decided to look at setting up my own business and hope this will be a success - the working world have done zero for my confidence and self esteem, so hopefully I will be able to make a living whilst being my own boss.....at least I won't make myself feel redundant and ineffectual.

Until next time

Tracy   

October challenge cancelled

Hello everyone

Here I am again announcing a cancellation of a War on Cancer challenge. It's been a particularly tough year this year on the fundraising front. People have told me they think the October indoor climb challenge sounded great fun, was something different and something we could all get our teeth into, however this didn't translate into names signing up. So due to lack of firm interest I have no choice but to cancel the event, it would be unfair of me to leave it much later to make this decision when we have an adventure company waiting to make firm plans. So apologies to our great friends Lost Earth Adventures who were going to be running this event for us.

We at WoC have faced much disappointment this year and have had to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves down. We hope that the last couple of events we are planning this year will give us a little boost. Regardless of everything that's occurred this year, we are still enthusiastically planning away and coming up with more events for next year.

It has without a doubt been hard after spending the best part of six months working on the Zumba for the venue to have to change, that was a lot of work by only a few of us on top of working full-time and spending the best of up to fifteen hours a week on the Zumba also. We will be picking this up again in the new year where we will launch our Zumba  campaign again and know the owners of the new venue want to be involved with us and the event. Our determination is to come back with an even bigger and better event than was planned this year.  But for this year most of our efforts have been unrewarded.

As you have no doubt seen the new website has in fact not been launched at the end of September as I announced mid July. I actually can't give you a new date, I'm not even sure of it myself, I will say though that I wouldn't pass on the date even if I did know it as I've already made this announcement twice this year. Whenever it takes place I hope you like it and will interact with me more and let me know what you think of it. We can't improve or give you what you want if you don't tell us what you'd like. So my sincere apologies once more for the launch failure.

I will be having a WoC meeting with our two ambassadors this coming week so will give you more details for the last two events to take place this year. I will try post something straight after our meeting.

On a personal note I am looking to step up my stamina and endurance training for Mount.Kilimanjaro next March but endeavouring to take up a mixture of boxercise and cage fighting training.....boy I'm looking forward to hitting the hell out of the bag believe me, it's going to be great for the frustration levels!! I will also have my own personal trainer Mr Paul Myers - thank you Paul for this and I apologise now for the frustration you are sure to suffer at my slow improvements!!

Myself and Bec's one of WoC's most loyal family member have got a couple of great hill walks in, we were back in the Dales in recent weeks, we climbed Yorkshire's highest peak Whernside and then in the last week or so we climbed Ingleborough. Bec's also in preparation for Mount.Kilimanjaro has got herself a new programme at the gym for her leg endurance to work on stretching out the muscles to hopefully prevent cramp issues when climbing Kili....I need one of those myself!

I must say I as well as climbing Whernside with Bec's actually went back and climbed it again four days later with my pal Donna. I felt great. I had a tougher climb when we did Ingleborough, I was struggling with breathlessness and a stupid cough I'd had for around five weeks. My chest was burning on the climb up. I actually had an appointment with the Doctor that week where it turned out I had a chest infection and laryingitis - that solved the mystery of why it was such a tough climb!

Until next time

Tracy

October sponsored Indoor team climb challenge

Hello everyone

Well here we are with our next challenge - this isn't for the fainthearted, it's a tough one, but will also be great fun. The event will take place on Saturday October 19th - this will be a full day event.

The venue is to be confirmed, but here are the rest of the details.

It is open to a maximum of 24 people, every participant must pledge to raise £100 minimum for War on Cancer.

There will be six people to a team and a experienced climb instructor for each team. I fully expect a bit of gentle team rivalry over the day.

But most importantly we will be collectively climbing the equivalent height of Mount.Kilimanjaro - that's a whopping 19,340ft! - this is a tough ask...but a worthy one, I'm positive with all the team backing and encouraging us along we can smash it!

This is a challenge that is a little different from the norm, something we can all contribute to as individuals and as a team of 24 we can conquer the height of the World's tallest free standing mountain.

I myself know I will find this really hard having had a lot of my chest muscle cut away when I had my breast tumour removed....but I will do my best and I will try my hardest to contribute as much as I can for this really exciting challenge.

The cost per person is £32.00 - this covers the entrance fee to the wall and the experienced climb instructors for the duration of the event.

Our climb experts are our great friends from Lost Earth Adventures who have accepted the challenge and are happy to be corroborating  with us again this year. We thank you guys and look forward to a day full of fun and laughter!

For those interested - remember it is limited places based on a first come basis. You can register your place by contacting me at waroncancer1@gmail.com with the following details :

Name, address and telephone number. - you can pay your entry fee here on the blog by pressing the Donate link.

Until next time

Tracy 

Upcoming events and general update

Hello everyone

I want to let you know what we have coming up event wise through to February 2014. The last 5 weeks have been really hard personally and from War on Cancers point of view. As you all know the Zumba had to be postponed and a new venue sought. With this been last minute it has caused nothing but stress and worry to myself and WoC's two ambassadors, we tried everything we could to still get the Zumba event to happen this year, unfortunately and very sadly this has been made impossible as we cannot get everything approved through the local council before the weather becomes too unpredictable. So with this in mind we really had no choice but to delay into the spring/summer of 2014.

I really did take this badly and have in all honesty been very down about it all, there was months of preparation gone into this, with some great work done to secure some superb sponsorship and help from some great companies, especially Ian Watt of Absolute Solutions who were sponsoring and providing not only the stage but also the audio for our wonderful event. Stuart Fletcher who was giving his time and DJ skills to us for free and of course Rachael of Zumba Bradford who was leading us in the Zumba and all the Zumba Belles and the Zumba kids too. We cannot thank you enough for what you were willing to do for us. And hopefully we'll see you next year when we kick it all off again!

It's been tough with having to delay this event and of course the delay to my challenge for climbing Mount.Kilimanjaro until next March. So a lot of disappointment this year.

Anyway we of course as always are moving forward and leaving all the negativity from the past number of weeks behind us and are concentrating on what's coming up over the next 6 months or so.

So onto positive and brighter news for WoC - here's whats on the agenda:

September - A charity car wash - I will confirm the date shortly - could be Sept 7th, will be at our usual venue - The Sun Inn at Cottingley - Why not go enjoy a meal while you're at it. Cost for your car £3.00!

The rescheduled Annual Garden and cocktail Party - this is now Sat Sept 14th from 14.00pm - it is at  new venue The Pink Parlour. My sister Caroline says she's fit and raring to go again - glad to have you back sis! Contact myself  here, on FB or Twitter if you are interested, or Caroline Anderson - an idea of numbers would be great from a food point of view. It is the same cocktail list with prices £2.50 each....our food theme is Italian and for 3 courses you pay a measly £5.00!! I will start putting posters out again.

October - October 19th brings our indoor sponsored team climbing challenge! - we are still ironing out the details for number of teams/ no of members in a team but will keep you updated. Please contact us here or myself / Angela Moore/ Katie Stirk to register your interest in being part of this great sponsored challenge.
Each team will have a friendly competition going on between each other over the day ( always will get that friendly rivalry going on ) - but ultimately all the teams collectively will be climbing to the equivalent height of a chosen mountain - this is going to be a great day and a really novel experience - I for one cannot wait to have a go at this, I will apologise to my team mates right now, I have no upper body strength, but will try my best to do my bit, I am no way not being part of this epic day! When it is fully costed out, we will announce it.

Date not confirmed in October - a charity event to be held in Plymouth. Details to follow!

November - November 23rd brings Ladies night to Low Moor Working Men's Club -DJ, Live band, tombola, raffle more details to follow!

December - December 8th Xmas Fayre - again our venue for this will be Low Moor Working Men's club - we will have stalls, tombola and a chocolate tombola, Santa for the kiddies etc. More details to follow, will update over next few weeks. Will be a lovely afternoon out!

February - February brings our Valentines Day event - this is going to be a brilliant night out folks- please don't think it's just for couples, many singles people will be there too. We are very happy to announce something a bit different for Valentines Day, rather than just the meal...blah, blah, blah.....we will be hosting a 1920's themed Murder Mystery evening with a meal and auction ! - We want to see all you Agatha Christie's and Poirot's there solving the murders - what about some Gangsters and Molls dressed up to the nines! - we want to know who dunnit!!!

March - March finally brings the challenge I set myself while I was recovering from pneumonia and a collapsed lung that had my chemo cut short - it has been such a long journey to get to this point. So I have some WOC "family" members coming along with me for this truly momentous adventure. The worlds tallest free standing mountain at 19,340 feet or 5,895 metres. Joining me on my challenge are Graham, Angela, Bec's, Ali and Caroline. Caroline is coming along to support but will not be climbing ( she'll be quality checking the beer on a regular basis while we are on the mountain!! ) This will be a 7 night/8 day climb. I hope you can find it in you to sponsor someone on this challenge.  We are climbing to the Roof of Africa to raise money and awareness for WOC - we will welcome corporate sponsorship on this endeavour and will happily wear your logos on our clothing, photoshoot at the summit!!  ! Lets really show our support in the fight  for men & women suffering from breast cancer - any and all donations and sponsorship will be most gratefully accepted. Together we can raise a mountain of cash for climbing a mountain!

There will be more details to follow on a lot of our up coming events, but as you can see we never stop in our drive to hopefully make someone's life easier as they fight the tough battle against cancer.

Until next time

Tracy