Get walking

Today is 'Stride for life' day, the day myself and hopefully many others muster our walking feet and take part in an 8km sponsored walk to raise money for breast cancer research. A Sunday off work is a treat at anytime for me but this one has special significance.

We all know someone who has faced the trauma of breast cancer, it would be hard not too considering one in twelve of we women will be diagnosed with the disease at some point in our life and for many of us that figure is even higher. For myself the significance is heightened by my currently having two friends dealing with having been diagnosed with breast cancer, both of whom have astounded me by their positivity and courage. 'M' my colleague who still to date, despite her chemotherapy having kicked in big time now, has only missed two days of work and 'P' a friend of many years, who has more recently been diagnosed and has just undergone the surgery stage of the process, again with an astounding attitude that is humbling and impressive in the extreme. Both these friends have faced their illness in a manner and with such courage that at times makes it hard to believe they are ill at all.

Taking part in today's sponsored event is not much but it is something and hopefully I will raise a few hundred pounds and do my little bit to support a charity that without funds for research could not have helped make breast cancer as treatable as it is today and cannot continue to carry out it's work to one day find a cure and lessen the trauma of the treatments.

So 'M' and 'P' and of course my mother, who beat this horrible disease almost 18 years ago, with the same bravery and with little more fuss than if she has been told she was suffering a head cold, today is for you, my 8km hobble is with the three of you very much in mind, you are all an inspiration.