Karen Kirkby - Showing Breast Cancer Who’s Boss

Anyone who knows Karen Kirkby knows that she meets every challenge head on, full force and gives it everything she’s got.

This time she’s going to need every bit of that famous Kirkby determination as she’s literally in the fight of her life, against that insidious, mongrel of a disease breast cancer. 

On the 2nd of June Karen was diagnosed with Stage 2 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma.A double mastectomy, the removal of herlymph nodes in her left arm, the installation of a portacath and three (of thirteen) chemo sessions later, Karen is still coming out with that fighting spirit, but we’re only part of the way through a very long journey. 

In line with a promise I made Karen way back when she first found her lump I am going out in sympathy and am shaving my head so that she won’t have to be bald alone. This promise has given Karen countless hours of delight - something that she has described as being “the best thing about having cancer!”

Given that this is not going to be the most stylish move I’ve ever made I told Karenthat I’ll absolutely go ahead with it but I’m not doing it for less than $10,000! Thismay be a lofty goal, but it’s my great hopethat I can raise enough to go some way towards helping with the costs of treatment, travel and accommodation that come with a diagnosis like Karen’s.

Karen and Mark are so incredibly grateful to all of their friends who have provided support along the way. It has given her the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and to keep her chin up and her determination at the forefront when things have seemed so very insurmountable. So from them both thank you all so very much.