Breast Cancer Exercise Retreat

At 38 I was diagnosed with primary breast cancer whilst on maternity leave caring for my 5 month old daughter Faron and my 2.5 year old son Regan.

After surgery, chemo and radiotherapy, tamoxifen for 5 years and herceptin for a year life got back to "normal" whatever that is. 

I decided not to return to work and to stay at home with my children but embarked upon creating a website  After Breast Cancer Diagnosis 

because I had a poor experience with surgery and struggled to get access to relevant information, felt totally isolated and didn't know where to turn. Also very confused by the mass of information and advice both on the Internet the usual support systems.

I launched abcd - After Breast Cancer Diagnosis on my 6th "cancerversary" - the 15th of Feb 2013 to help patients make INFORMED choices about breast cancer - it was to give a unique perspective from a patient and the patient voice providing a one stop shop.

I'm a huge advocate for exercise when going through treatment and after (rehab) aswell as "prehab". Because through my passion I am a firm believer that exercise has helped with my quality of life. It doesn't just help physically but helps mentally too, dealing with such a huge complex disease.

In 2014, a year into the launch of abcdiagnosis I was rediagnosed with secondary breast cancer which is incurable and means I will have active treatment every 3 weeks for the rest of my life.

At this diagnosis my median life expectancy was 2-3 yrs.  2 large surgeries and 18 extra chemotherapy cycles later I am currently now 5 years out and I still continue with my daily exercise regime which I feel has improved my chances.

The reason for this gofundme page, is to introduce patients to the amazing exercise retreats specifically for breast cancer, they spend 2 days with myself and a team of exercise coaches, yoga and holistic teachers and helpers in Saddleworth - running, cycling, yoga and nordic walking, where I love getting them motivated to exercise through cancer, as I know the HUGE benefits I get from exercising. Research shows that primary patients can reduce their risk of secondary disease and reduced side effects for secondary patients - see this link--> abcd exercise retreat 

The money that i'm raising is to support patients to attend the retreat and is a fully funded weekend. I'm hoping to give more opportunities to more patients to attend these and the aim is for 5 retreats every year for the next 3 years at least.

If you can support and or donate (maybe do your own fundraiser) to these amazing weekends it would be hugely beneficial to those patients in need of a chance to feel motivated. The people who attend benefit hugely not just from exercise but life long friendships and support also.

They really are unique and there is nothing like them, especially being run BY a patient FOR patients.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and support the ABCD Exercise Retreat.

Jo x 

Please watch the  video here ---> abcd retreat video