Many of CancerCare’s most prolific fundraisers are former clients who choose to give something back to the charity who helped them see the light during some of their darkest times. When Sue Hanlon was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, she turned to CancerCare for support. Since she first walked through the doors, Sue has not only benefitted from the wealth of services available but she has also taken up the fundraising baton herself.
Sue’s energy is currently being channelled into CancerCare’s Dare2Dip Every Day in January, the ultimate charity cold water challenge that requires participants to dip every single day during the first month of the year while asking friends and family for sponsorship.
Currently, Sue has more than doubled her target, raising over £1,200 (Including Gift Aid) so far.
After her breast cancer diagnosis over a decade ago, Sue attended one-to-one counselling sessions with CancerCare therapist Samreen. She then received nutritional advice and starred in CancerCare’s knocker-jotter which has raised over £10,000.
There were complications with Sue’s cancer treatment, which added to the strain she was under after receiving her initial diagnosis.
“I had a mastectomy followed by immediate reconstruction which failed as I was allergic to the pig skin,” Sue explained. “I had three weeks of treatment to clear an infection before a prosthesis was fitted. Then, I had chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy.
“When I first met with Samreen I didn’t know how I was going to go on,” added Sue. “I’d got to breaking point and I couldn’t cope, especially with the intense physical pain I was suffering from. Samreen was amazing and her methods really worked for me.”
Sue is being welcomed back for support after she received a diagnosis of secondary breast cancer of the bone and liver in December. This cancer is classified as treatable, but not curable.
“I’ve struggled with a bad back for a while but suddenly the pain changed so I went to the doctors,” said Sue. “I was referred for physio, but it wasn’t improving, only getting worse.
“It got to the stage where I couldn’t really walk so I was sent for a CT scan, before a nuclear bone scan found the cancer,” Sue continued. “I started my treatment in December and while I was sat at home feeling sorry for myself on Christmas Day, I saw CancerCare’s Dare2Dip challenge and I decided to go for it.”
Sue is a seasoned wild dipper, having taken up the pastime two years ago. She is an active member of Project Cold, a community dipping project based in and around Lancaster that helps people harness the power and benefits of breath work and cold water immersion.
The Project Cold team, headed up by Jefferson Cartmell, all headed out to Morecambe Bay on New Years Day to support Sue as she kicked off her Dare2Dip Every Day in January challenge.
“I am overwhelmed with what I’ve raised so far,” Sue said. “There are so many benefits to cold water therapy. You feel so invigorated when you put your head under the water and you’re buzzing for the rest of the day.
“I chose to take on the Dare2Dip Every Day as I hope CancerCare can continue to be there for people, including myself, when we need them. I don’t really like talking about my problems or asking for help, so coming to CancerCare has helped me deal with what I’m going through. Without fundraisers, the service CancerCare provides won’t be here, so it’s important for us to do our bit.”
You can support Sue's Dare2Dip via her Just Giving page.