Braving the chop for charity!

Charity fundraiser in honour of my Nan:

So I'm nearly 30...I could stick my head in the sand (which I'm totally doing by the way) or I could celebrate it with something important and memorable.

Anyone who knows me knows I wouldn't be complete without my 'trademark' long ginger hair...well for charity I'll be braving the scissors and donating my hair to the Little Princess Trust! During lockdown I have grown my hair out, ready for the chop if I reach my target! And if I exceed my target I might even dye it for the first time ever! *gulp* Any colour suggestions?

After a long battle with cancer through the middle of a pandemic, I wanted to show my Nan that something 'good' could come out of the past terrible year. So, I decided to grow out my hair for the past year to donate so that others can have a little piece of normality we usually take for granted: hair is something we don't really treasure until it's gone, and seeing my Nan go through this journey inspired me to give back in any way I can.

Alongside donating my hair, I'm also raising money for the Eve Appeal, a cancer charity close to my heart (and name!). If you can't give, that's okay! This past year has been tough on us all, only give if you can. I would just be honoured if people could share this fundraiser, and most importantly talk with friends and family about the importance of regular health check ups and knowing the signs to look out for. We only get one body, let's look after it.

Inspiration for the fundraiser:

It's no secret this past year has been hard on families up and down the country, and my family was no exception: my much loved Nan has had to endure her toughest year yet. After loosing my Grandad to cancer several years previously, she had just begun to start venturing out again and finding enjoyment in the small things; a coffee with friends, hugs with family, even going to the supermarket was a break from a house filled with memories.

However, a year before the pandemic hit, she received a major blow: she had cancer. She spent a year back and forth hospital appointments, battling through chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and eventually needing to have her kidney removed. We were devastated. It's safe to say she went through hell and back, but amazingly she fought it and won! Whilst still weak, she was eager to return to normality as soon as possible. She had missed out on a year of enjoying life, she was so excited to get back to normal.

And then, the pandemic hit. Still having a vulnerable immune system, she was forced to shield, having her whole world torn away from her once more. The little things that helped her through each day were no longer there. Coffee with friends? Too dangerous. Hugs with family? Life threatening. Even going to the supermarket was too much of a risk for her immune system. She was now trapped in her house with no end in sight.

As restrictions started to ease, my Nan could see light at the end of the tunnel. At long last she would be able to taste freedom again (as well as a frothy cappuccino of course). But as soon as Lockdown 1 was over, she received gut wrenching news. The cancer she had been told had gone, had just moved. She was back to square one. Saying that this was heart breaking is an understatement.

Cut to: more chemotherapy sessions, radiotherapy appointments and shielding for the foreseeable future. Thankfully I was able to move in with my Nan to help out, working from home whilst making sure she was okay; however it broke my heart that I couldn't help her with what really mattered, being healthy and free.

One year after the start of the pandemic, and we were given the best news ever. She had been given the all clear. Admittedly we were still cautious, however after the past year this was music to our ears! After a year of shielding, the idea of returning to the outside world is certainly daunting. It will still be a while before my Nan feels totally comfortable relaxing with friends in a coffee shop, and hugs have been replaced with careful elbow bumps. Her trips to the supermarket however have now become a special occasion, and it's these little pleasures we usually take for granted that I am thankful for.

The charities involved:

I'm raising money in aid of Eve Appeal: Gynaecology Cancer Research Fund, as well as donating my hair to the Little Princess Trust, and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

The Little Princess Trust provides free real hair wigs to children and young people, up to 24 years, who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions. Further information can be found at: https://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/our-story

Gynaecology Cancer Research Fund trading as The Eve Appeal is the only national UK charity dedicated to funding world-class research and raising awareness of all five gynaecological cancers; cervical, ovarian, vaginal, vulval and womb. Further information can be found at: https://eveappeal.org.uk/about-us/

Thank you so much for reading! I truly appreciate it more than you know.