Noeleen Smith Albany, Western Australia Australia Amazon Heart Thunder Australia 2009 Experienced Rider Click Here to Donate Now!

In March 2006 I found a lump and was convinced from that very second it was cancer, I had had benign lumps removed 11 years before but something told me this was different. My little voice was right even though two specialists thought otherwise. In April I got the news no-one wants and then started the surgery, the chemo and herceptin.

Every three weeks Bruce (my absolutely wonderful supportive husband) drove me to Perth, approx 1000km round trip for my various treatments for the next two years.

It is during times like this that you discover the hundreds of volunteers who give so freely of their time to try and improve your life.  I thank each and every one of them. Some people of course are very special.

My sister Lorraine who I am sure read every thing ever written about cancer to improve my chances, my two daughters, Stacey who would phone from Perth and tell me she loved me and Kylie who cooked and made me eat when I didn’t want to and made me walk everyday and I really didn’t want to do that!  Vicki Grinceri who phoned from Perth every three weeks all through my chemo to see how I was (I hope she realises how much those calls lifted my spirits) and  Murray and Jenny Couchman who took over the running of our holiday accommodation business for such a long time.

This ride is a goal I have dreamt of since I heard of ‘Changing Gears’ 2 years ago.

I am now the proud owner of a shiny black Sportster.  I haven’t ridden for 30 years so all I have to do now is stop reliving the glory days of a 20 year old and work out how to get a fat 56 year old arthritic leg over the bike and ride!

Thanks Mick and Mike from Great Southern Motorcycles for your support and kind words of encouragement.

Cancer research is so important.  It is what gives us the treatments that save our lives. Programs that help with confidence also are very important, it is one thing to survive cancer, but you also have to live life and not be scared of the ‘what if’.

I consider myself so very lucky to have survived, I am grateful for every day I have.  I have never felt happier with my life.  I have finally sorted the important from the unimportant.

Thank you Amazon Heart for the new direction I have, let’s raise heaps of money and have fun!  (Now if only I could squeeze into my old leathers!)

Click Here to Donate Now!