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I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2005 just 2 weeks before my 54 th birthday. It was quite a shock because there is no history of cancer in my family. I needed to have a biopsy through a hook wire incision, then a lumpectomy and 6 weeks of Radium. I had a very positive attitude through all of this and having the support of my family and friends helped me enormously. It was at that time that I realised just how many people really cared about me. Being a very independent person, the hardest thing I needed to learn was to be willing to accept help when it was offered to me and also to ask for help if I needed to. I live in Mackay which is located about halfway between Brisbane and Cairns and has a population of around 78,000. With its coastal location and an annual temperature of 23 degrees Celsius, Mackay offers a relaxed, tropical lifestyle that combines all the facilities of a modern regional city with an array of natural wonders. There are no facilities for Radium treatment in Mackay so I had to spend the 6 weeks in Townsville which is about 4 hours drive away. While I was there I saw a poster advertising a group called Dragons Abreast Townsville. I contacted them and learnt about this wonderful concept of paddling in a dragon boat with other breast cancer survivors for fun, fitness and to show others that there is life after breast cancer treatment. Once I was back home and on the road to recovery I met with other survivors and Dragons Abreast Mackay was born. With the help of the local community we raised enough money in just 7 months to purchase our brand new boat and are now having a great time paddling in our beautiful Marina twice a week I am employed as a Support Worker for people with physical and intellectual disabilities and absolutely love my job. I gain a lot of pleasure and inspiration from my clients. I enjoy travelling in Australia and overseas, creating cloth dolls, dragon boat paddling and spending time with my family and friends. My son and daughter are both married and between them they have given me the gift of 5 beautiful grandchildren. They all live in Mackay only a few blocks away from me so I see them quite often. My life has changed since my diagnosis. I now make the most of every day and every opportunity that comes my way. A whole new world has opened up for me. I have made many new friends (“breast friends”) through Dragons Abreast and will make more through taking part in the Amazon Heart Odyssey Montana. I am really looking forward to living and working alongside the Blackfeet Indians and taking part in the spiritual healing retreat. I hope to inspire other women facing a diagnosis of breast cancer and show them that there are no limits to what we can achieve whether we have breasts or not! I am paying my own airfares to America as well as my accommodation and living expenses but will gladly accept donations to help pay the cost of materials to build a cultural centre for the local children.
Keep the spirit alive!
Australian Donors:
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