It has been hectic

With apologies for the silence, but the last few weeks have been very busy.

Our Patient Day was a stunning success - the biggest ever with great speakers. We heard from patients about their experiences and they gave wise advice about how to handle different aspects of bowel cancer. We heard from senior clinicians - doctors and nurses - about everything from trends in treatment to the psychology of being diagnosed with bowel cancer.  And we celebrated the best of us all with our Achievement Awards, given to five amazing individuals who are all helping to beat bowel cancer.  This year they were presented by Lord Mayor of London, Fiona Woolf CBE.  That's the lovely Gail Allen in the picture receiving hers alongside the Lord Mayor and our Chairman Sir Christopher Pitchers.

Ten days before I was locked in a radio studio doing back to back interviews with local stations talking about the need to have that life-saving conversation about bowel cancer and the need to Lift the Lid.  It was all about getting the message out, raising awareness and getting people diagnosed earlier.  I also talked about the need for the roll out of a new screening test which is easier to do and more accurate and, when introduced nationally, should improve screening uptake and so lead to many more being diagnosed earlier. We called for this knowing it was being considered for piloting - and we had asked for this many times in the past.  But in all our conversations and all our meetings we had no clear statement that it would be introduced anytime soon. Well, thanks to that little extra pressure Public Health England announced that the first pilots are to take place. Getting there over the years has been the collaborative work of many, but on the day we know the pressure to finally act was thanks to our Lift the Lid Day.

All in all, a successful bowel cancer awareness month.  Lots of conversations were had, many on our Message Wall, including posts from politicians and celebrity supporters. We won a specific response from a governmental body.  We announced our two new Ambassadors - Freya North and Kevin Sheedy.  We got massive media coverage numbering hundreds of local radio and press items. And, all in all, lots of awareness was raised.

Our work goes on.  Our nurses are here to help and in the future we need to help more people than we are able to now.  It's the people we are not able to be there for that keep me awake at night.  We are relatively small when compared to other cancer charities but our need is as big.  So, we need to help more people and make more noise.

I am taking part in Ride London on 10 August, aiming to raise £10,000 for Beating Bowel cancer's work.  I would be delighted if you could show you support with a donation on my Just Giving page.  Thank you. X