We lost David Bowie, Terry Wogan and Lemmy in January; all 3 of them to cancer. Whenever someone dies from cancer, it can't help but remind me of the fact that people close to me have suffered from it.This includes both of my parents.
My Mum was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2005; luckily, they managed to remove it successfully, and, in lovely news, during January she got the "all clear" after 10 years of check-ups at the hospital. Dad, meanwhile, has suffered from lymphoma cancer since 2011. While the hospital can control it, it isn't something they will ever be able to fully cure. The obvious positive is the fact he's still here, and should still be here for a while yet, which I am indescribably grateful for. However, it has still had a huge impact on our life as a family; due to the cancer, as of last year my Dad has taken early-retirement due to ill health - at the age of 53.
This has made home-life a fair bit more stressful, as we have had to adapt to the new circumstances, both practically and financially. Particularly over the last few weeks, I have been feeling quite stressed out, and I have had a few down days over it all; I'm not saying this to get sympathy, or anything like that, it's just an important thing to talk about so others going through similar experiences know that they aren't alone. I know there are people on my friend list who have lost people to cancer, or who have cancer themselves - I'd like them to know that I think about them, and anyone else I know affected by it, every time I hear sad news like that of the deaths of Wogan, Bowie and Lemmy.
Out of dark times always comes light, of course, so I'd like to direct people towards something my Uncle Graham is doing: starting on 8th June 2016, he is doing a 300 mile bike ride from London to Paris, over 4 days. He is doing this in aid of the Lymphoma Association - primarily as a show of support for his brother-in-law. Now, when I want to show support, I'd usually send an e-mail, or send a text...a 300 mile bike ride is an absurd level of support. Lots of people say to me "stand-up comedy must be so hard, I could never do it" - but, frankly, most people could do it after you put 5 drinks in them. Make them tipsy, give them a microphone, and there we go! They are a stand-up comedian. Not a good one, but still. A 300 mile bike ride, however? If anything, 5 drinks will make a 1 mile bike impossible, never mind the rest.
If you fancy throwing a couple of pounds his way, that would be absolutely lovely. Don't do this if you can't afford it, though; I've had many times in my life when I couldn't afford £4 for a drink at the pub, so I completely get it.
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