LFG BQ

This blog celebrated its first birthday on Friday - happy birthday my friend. "What a difference a day year makes." I wrote that first blog for two reasons; 1) to try and make sense of what was in front of me, and 2) to 'announce' the cancer diagnosis (mainly so I didn't have to have the same conversation a thousand times).  A year on, I get to write for a happier reasons. In January, on a particularly cold morning walk with Evie, the first ideas began to form about possibly hosting an event to celebrate getting better, raising awareness of lymphoma and raising money for Lymphoma Action. To be honest, back then it felt a hundred years away and little more than a pipe dream - but it gave us something to aim for. On Saturday 10th September, a year and a day after my initial diagnosis, we held that event; a black tie charity fundraising night with all our friends and family in aid of Lymphoma Action. We raised £7,438.47. I keep finding myself looking at that figure....

So then, here we are. Welcome! Thank you so much for being here this evening, it really does mean a lot to us to see so many people here. Now, I’m only too aware that I’ve said A LOT so far. Just the 23,475 words to be exact on my hit blog, so I will try to keep this relatively short. Yesterday was the anniversary of when I was told I had cancer. Something I never imagined would actually happen to me. It feels like hours ago on one hand, and a lifetime on the other.  It’s funny, I don’t really recall much from that day. I couldn’t tell you what time the appointment was or much of what was said – other than “it’s cancer”.  I do remember it was raining though.  I was as naive and, lets be honest, sheltered as they come when it came to knowing anything about cancer.  Once diagnosed, I relied entirely on Evie and my parents to tell me things I needed to know. We were given a guide book, (not of the most fun variety) which to this day I have never opened, and not once did...