A Big Thank you!

When I was first diagnosed with Lymphoma last year, one of my best friends, Laura Dash, not only shaved her head in support of me, but also started some fundraising. Laura raised close to $6000 and gave it to me on the night of the big shave. You could say I became rather 'emotional' when I was presented with a list of names of all the people who had donated.  

I decided to donate this money to a cause very close to my heart...'The Leukaemia Foundation' and set up a web page for the 'Worlds Greatest Shave' so that other people could donate. 

The Leukaemia Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that raises funds to support patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders.  They also fund research to find better cures and treatments of these diseases.

Thank you to everyone who donated and to the people who gave up their time to hold special events; The Heart Foundation, Jetstar Airways, Karingal Drive Tennis Club, Eltham North Primary School and Good Year Tyres.  

A special thanks also goes to a couple of people who raised a lot of money through their workplaces by shaving their heads...my cousin Marty Gibbs who is a teacher at Siena College and my old friend Wardey who is an accountant at KPMG.

Because of everyone's kindness and generosity, I raised $23,193 for The Leukaemia Foundation...pretty good, if I do say so...!

Me, Mugs, Big Kev, JP & Dashie
(Thanks for shaving your heads boys! & Laura!)

Marty just after getting his head shaved at assembly.

I received this photo on my phone one day without knowing what Wardey was up to.
Good on ya Wardey!


www.leukaemia.org.au

A Rollercoaster Ride...

September 24th, 2010 was the day I returned home after my 3 month overseas adventure.  It was also the day my life changed forever.  It was the day I was diagnosed with cancer.  Stage 4, Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma to be exact. Aggressive cancer at age 24.  

All I knew about lymphoma was that Delta Goodrem had a certain type and she got through it ok.  And if I had my very own Brian McFadden waiting for me at the end of my treatment, I could do it as well ;)

The support I received when I was diagnosed was overwhelming.  It was so great to know that people were thinking, praying and sending me good wishes.   I heard from people that I haven't spoken to in years. Some people I thought I would never speak to again, I spoke to.  To have everyone's support was incredibly heart warming. 

To say that my illness has only affected my own life would be an understatement.  My family and friends lives were also turned upside-down.  Through everything, the good and the bad, they have been with me every step of the way.  I have never had to go through anything alone.  Not even shaving my head!  And for a woman, that is a very big deal!  Words cannot express how lucky I feel to have them in my life.

  

It’s not important for everyone to know the ins and outs of what treatment I’ve had and what I’ve had to endure so far, because now it is all in the past. Unless you have been touched by cancer and walked in my shoes, it is hard to understand.  All you need to know is that it has been a huge physical and emotional rollercoaster.  If you’re close to me you would have seen me fall, and then get back up again many times. Through blood, sweat and tears I now find myself in remission.            

Although remission technically means I no longer have cancer, it is far from a cure and the chance of relapsing is high, so I will keep on fighting.  I am now facing the ultimate battle... A Bone Marrow Transplant....but that is another story.  

My sister Brooke and I just before the head shaving.

Laura & I getting our heads shaved by the lovely Casey Gist.