DonateThis Christmas, we need your help. We're asking you, our incredible supporters, to consider making a donation so that we can fund one of our 2nds Together Retreats for people living with secondary breast cancer.
Having a secondary (metastatic) breast cancer diagnosis is physically, mentally and emotionally gruelling. For people like Kate, we’re here to give hope and help them feel less isolated. Next year, we’re hoping to run seven 2nds Together Retreats supporting 136 people. Our Retreats can cost up to £12,000, so we’re asking 600 supporters to give just £20 in our Christmas Appeal to help fund this.
Meet Kate. She was diagnosed in June 2020 during the middle of Covid completely out of the blue. She had no family history of breast cancer and had been feeling fine. "One Sunday afternoon, I was having a cuddle with my two-year-old daughter at the time and she lent back on me and I thought, “Ouch, that’s painful - what’s that?" and I felt a lump."
Fast-forward a couple of weeks after scans and a biopsy, Kate was diagnosed with incurable secondary (metastatic) breast cancer.
"For the first few months I was in a daze. I was going back and forth for hospital appointments and tests, and had so many questions. I didn’t know where to turn. I told friends but they just didn’t get it. They kept saying, "just rest, you’ll get better".”
Kate started chemotherapy during lockdown. "It was gruelling. I lost my hair and couldn’t get out of bed some days after treatment. I wasn’t told that I would be forced into the menopause at 39 and I felt rotten from it, but couldn’t talk to my friends as they weren’t going through it. My mental health was all over the place - I felt low and isolated.
"I didn’t want to join any breast cancer support groups as I thought everyone would be dying and I couldn’t handle that. I went to an event at Future Dreams House in London who do events for those living with breast cancer. It was there that I found out about Make 2nds Count and my life changed."
"I heard about the Make 2nds Count Tea & Chat groups and saw there was one near me. I caught a train into London and found a group of women who were the same as me. It was such a relief. Suddenly I’d found people that understood me. I went on a Retreat last Autumn - it was a much-needed break from the monotony of hospital appointments, treatment, family life and work."
So, this Christmas, we’re asking you to give just £20 to help us fund a 2nds Together Retreat where people like Kate can relax, take a break from gruelling treatment and hospital appointments, and build friendships.
Will you help us make moments count this Christmas? 