I was born and raised is a small town in southern NSW, one of 13 children, 8 girls and five boys.  I am the third girl in the family to have had breast cancer.   

Back in October 1996 I went on the IBIS trials for Tamoxifen, having been on the trial for 5 years, then monitored for a further 2 years. You can imagine my shock when during my regular yearly check, (it had only been 10 months since my previous mammogram), I was told "we have a problem". This was Feb 2004. 

Within days, all plans were put on hold, and a whirlwind of treatment began. A lumpectomy was performed in the first week, after which was followed by 30 treatments of radium. But there was no time to rest, two days after finishing the treatment I was on a plane to the UK, which is where my husband was running his IT Company. Fortunately my beautiful daughter Kate (she is in the photo with me, when we walked the Sydney harbour bridge last year), was with me every step of the way, through all the treatment and travelled with me back to the UK.   

By now I must admit I was feeling a little shell-shocked. I was constantly suffering from infections and virus as my body tried to recover from the radium. The pain at times was so bad I would cringe if someone wanted to give me a hug or bump into me on the street. My daughter became very skilled at driving to avoid every bump in the road!! But as the pain started to become more manageable, I started to get my active life back on track. First step was to enter the Tesco Race for Life walk/run in July 2004. That was such a great day, so many woman, for one cause.............. 

About 18 months after the operation, I was ready to give something back.  I started as a volunteer in the breast care unit at the Mater Adults Hospital in Brisbane, spending most Thursday mornings there.  I have to say it is the most rewarding job I have ever done.  I have made some amazing friends.  I feel it is a good thing for these woman who have just been diagnosed to see,  that there is life after surgery. 

I have never even been on a motor bike, in fact when my boys announced a few years ago that they wanted to ride bikes, I was the typical mother that panicked! So this is my challenge for this year - I start lessons on 20th March. It is my dream to do all three rides in all three countries. 

 My husband Peter, sons, David and Simon, daughter Kate were a little stunned when I first hinted that I wanted to be apart of Amazon Heart, but now, like they have all they way through, they offer me their full support. They even want to join in as well. 

I am really looking foward to meeting everyone, enjoying the landscape of our beautiful country and having an awesome time on the ride.