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Dawn said: We are doing a sponsored walk up Black mountain in Belfast on the 1st Oct to kick off breast care awareness month and to raise funds for Hope House in Whitehead a beautiful seafront apartment providing complimentary, short stay accommodation for rest and recuperation for adults living with a cancer diagnosis. We would greatly appreciate it if you could make a small donation and help us to help others to Stand Up To Cancer. check out our website hopehouseireland.org . We started the charity after my husband was diagnosed with cancer again after 22yrs in remission but after a year of chemo he once again put the black mountain of cancer under his feet but only 2yrs later we would once again have to navigate the black mountain of cancer when I went for a routine mammogram they discovered I had stage 3 breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy and chemo but thankfully early detection has saved my life had it not been for the mammogram I never would have known as the tumours were to small to feel them, I cannot stress enough how important it is for women to attend the breast screening appointments and to check their Breast regularly. When my husband finished his chemo we did a symbolic walk to the top of the mountain in Belfast as a celebration that he had conquered the black mountain of cancer, I used to look at black mountain at all my visits to the hospital in The Cancer Center and on my bad days I would shout at that mountain I'm going to beat this and I too will stand at the top of Black Mountain and be able to shout cancer is under my feet. Woohoo!! That day is here I will be finishing my 18 mths of treatment at the start of Oct and I have chosen to celebrate by doing this VICTORY walk lol!! More of a crawl for me but I ain't gonna let the fatigue stop me, my wonderful family are also doing it with me to help us raise funds and to encourage people that There is life after cancer and make people aware of our service. This celebration is going to be all the more special because Lyndsey and Thomas Haighton will be doing it with me. I met the inspirational Lyndsey a few months ago when they came to stay at Hope House as Lyndsey was also diagnosed with breast cancer and finishes her treatment at the same time as me, so Black Mountain Here we come!! TeamHOPE Determined to Help Others STAND UP to cancer.
H aveO nlyP ositiveE xpectations
Lyndsey said: I'm so thrilled to be doing this victory walk (crawl) up Black mountain with Dawn and her family It marks a great achievement for usall - finishing treatment and standing up to cancer!
Dawn came into our lives at the perfect time. I had been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at the age of 30, after finding a lump in my breast during a self-examination. I underwent a mastectomy and Axillary node clearance, followed by chemo. During chemotherapy, Thomas and myself arranged a weekend in the beautiful Hope House.
When we arrived Dawn was so welcoming, it was like we had known each other for years. Hope House exceeded our expectations it's so peaceful and set in a gorgeous location. Thomas and I spent the weekend resting, reading and recuperating from our crazy lives of looking after 2 children , Thomas working full time and attending hospital appointments. It was just what we both needed.
I would encourage any adult living with a cancer diagnosis to get in touch with Dawn and make use of this amazing place.
I'm hoping to raise money for this fabulous charity but also kick off breast care awareness month by getting our story out there and encouraging young women like myself to self-examine regularly,as early detection saves lives.
CHECKING MY BREASTS SAVED MINE!!!