The challenge

Imagine that you are told one day that you have a cancer that isn't normally talked about - it's not polite to talk about things to do with bottoms and bowels.  Imagine the shock. Perhaps you know nothing about bowel cancer.  Perhaps you did, but heard that it is a killer - you had a relative or friend die of it and they were told that nothing can be done. So, you now have to deal with this, come to terms with having a "really bad" cancer and summon up your courage to find out what can be done, whether you will survive and, if so, what the treatments will do to your body.

I have been very quiet of late and haven't begged (or should that be bugged) people for their donations.  It's time to change that!  It's time to help me to help Beating Bowel Cancer to help all those affected by bowel cancer.

Raising money for a charity is a challenge.  We all know that asking our friends and family for yet another round of sponsorship is something that we feel awkward about.  Even I, as a cancer charity Chief Executive, sometimes feel it is difficult to ask for sponsorship for my cycle challenges.   But, let me talk about a real challenge.  The challenge of living with bowel cancer.

This challenge is one that someone faces every fifteen minutes.  Bowel cancer is incredibly common - shockingly so.  One in four of us has some connection to bowel cancer - probably someone in the family has had it, or has it now.  That is why Beating Bowel Cancer has a huge job to do.  Our vision is to beat bowel cancer by bringing people together.  We bring people together to raise awareness, so this common cancer is more commonly spoken about - breaking down the taboo to make it easier to get the message across about symptoms and treatments.  We bring people together to help everyone affected by bowel cancer - providing information, support, reassurance, and hope.

Our nurses are a visible example of our work.  They answer calls and emails, providing an individual, expert support to someone who needs it.  Our website and online Forum are also there, 24 hours a day, to provide information, but also to connect people with each other, breaking down the barriers that bowel cancer can bring, providing a source of hope and inspiration.

So, friends, I need your support.  I am well on the way to my goal of cycling 3,000 miles to raise funds for our vital work.  I would like your donations/sponsorship, whatever you want to call it to help the work of Beating Bowel Cancer.  My challenge is nothing like the challenge someone is forced to face up to every fifteen minutes.  My challenge involves turning my legs over some hundreds of miles and up some (very steep at times) hills.  But, by so doing, raising money, raising awareness, I want to do my bit as Chief Executive of Beating Bowel Cancer.  I would be grateful for your support.

Please be generous.  You can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/Mark-Flannagan5. 

Thank you so much