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I'm Taking it On for Pancreatic Cancer UK
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and for the second year running I am Taking It On.
As everyone knows, I was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in January 2020. Pancreatic cancer is hard for doctors to spot and there is no simple diagnostic test. More than half of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die within 3 months. I was one of the lucky ones because my tumour grew in such a way that it caused me to become ill and to see a doctor. Because it was caught early enough I was able to have surgery to remove it.
Even after major surgery and 6 months of chemotherapy my cancer managed to come back, this time in my liver. But again I was lucky. It was caught in time for me to have ground-breaking new radiotherapy treatment which has seen it off and currently I am cancer free and living my best life!
This has made me more determined than ever to take on another fundraising challenge and to raise awareness for a cause that really is close to my heart.
Last year my challenge 24 was to walk 24 miles in 24 days and I hoped to raise £500. Thanks to your generosity I smashed that target and raised over £2000. This year it was harder to find something that would really challenge me - I already swim and walk and I can't expect my friends, however generous, to keep paying money for something I enjoy doing anyway. However, after much soul searching we have come up with Sing 24!
My challenge is to learn and sing 24 songs in an evening. Sure I like to sing, but in front of an audience with the pressure of getting through 24 numbers .... now that's a challenge!! But as nerve wracking as it is, it is nothing compared to the anguish that someone, somewhere is going through right now, having just been told they have pancreatic cancer and they have just a few months to live.
My challenge will take place on Sunday 28th November, at St Lawrence Church Hall, Bridle Road, Eastcote HA5 2SJ at 7.30pm. I'd love it if you'd come along and support me. Don't worry it won't just be me caterwauling, I have a wonderful group of special friends who will be joining me in my endeavours. And there will be a bar and snacks on sale!!!! There won't be any entrance fee but you are asked to please donate and sponsor my challenge with all the financial generosity you can muster.
Numbers are limited so please let me know if you are coming along. I really hope you will be with us on the night, but even if you can't, please if you possibly can, sponsor me anyway. There'll be a recording or you can watch on zoom!
Please support me and my fundraising. Together we can help fund vital research to help get closer to a breakthrough in early diagnosis.
Pancreatic cancer is tough but together, we’ll Take It On.
From the bottom of my heart, the biggest of thank yous.
Karen x
My donations have funded...

522 hours with a nurse on our Support Line
or

468 hours of early diagnosis research
My Achievements

Uploaded Profile Picture

Shared page

Self donated

Reached 50% of goal

Reached 100% of goal

Funded 1 day of Research

Funded 2 days of Research

Funded 3 days of Research
My Updates

And it's a wrap!
Oh.my.god what a night last night was!! It still feels a bit surreal that I actually sang 24 songs but maybe the vodka flavoured Dutch courage has something to do with that!
Blown away by your generosity!
Can you believe this? Thanks to 2 very generous anonymous donations received today we have not only smashed through the £3,500 barrier but also £4,500! I am apparently currently the second highest fundraiser on the leader board. To say thank you doesn't seem anywhere near enough.
One week to go and another target increase!
Well this time next week I will be shaking like a leaf as I gird my loins for the big night. I hope lots of you amazing supporters will be there too. I don't promise a show, I won't be word perfect and there will be bum notes, but none of that should matter. This is about challenging myself and doing something outside of my comfort zone to raise money for a ridiculously important cause.
World Pancreatic Cancer Day reflections
Today is World Pancreatic Cancer Day and I have been in reflective mood thinking about what might have been had my cancer not been caught early enough to have treatment.
Luckily and thankfully, it was, but luck aside, I have some very special people to thank for the fact that I am still here and currently fighting fit! From the brilliant and kind surgeon that performed robotically the most complex 6 hour operation imaginable and his dry humoured, witty sidekick Anaesthetist who got me through it (and ensured I came out the other side!) through to my completely bonkers, but totally wonderful Oncologist who has 100% got my back and always goes above and beyond to prevent me shuffling off this mortal coil before time. I have put my trust and my life in their hands and they have never let me down. Add to the mix the kindest nurses, radiographers and support staff that I have met along the way, all of whom have all made the horriblest of journeys as pleasant as it can be. I will always be grateful to them.
But wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to hope that we will be one of the lucky ones to be able to have treatment or better still not have to go through hideous surgery and debilitating treatment at all? Well, if we just keep doing all that we can to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK, perhaps one day in the not too distant future we’ll have that test that provides early diagnosis and the odds will be reversed. That’s why I am Taking it On and even though I am terrified about this challenge and feel sick every time I think of it, I will do it because – well because I am still here!
Thank you for Taking it On with me.
Karen x
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Another Target increase and the big girl's pants are on!
I simply cannot believe it. We've not only broken last year's fundraising total but also smashed the £2500 target! You people are amazing!
Silence is golden!
Good old sing through of the songs today but oh dear the voice isn't holding up so well.....definitely time for a bit of vocal rest to make sure we're on form for the 28th!
Another target increase!
Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! Just smashed through the £2000 target and so it goes up to £2500!
Target increase!
Thanks to an incredibly generous donation from one of my client companies, we've smashed another target!!! £1587 raised and so the target goes up to £2000.
November is here!
1st of November and the pressure is on!! Met up with the lovely ladies who are going to be singing some of the songs with me yesterday and they sound amazing!
Target increase!
Well we've already smashed the initial £1000 target with a whopping £1237 raised so it would be rude not to raise the target to £1500!
Venue booked, songs chosen, learning like mad ......!!!
People who meet me out walking the dog or who drive past me in traffic or hack up and down the swimming lanes next to me must all think I am stark staring bonkers! Why? Because I spend the whole time reciting song lyrics!Thank you to my Supporters

£13.52
B Ennison

£10
Megan Fox
Well done.

£31.20
Christina Macleod

£200
Ljs Services
Our fee for Saturday night donated to the cause

£10
Cristina
Smashed it (couldn't remember if I donated before!!)

£24
Francesca Paulley
£1 for every wonderful song. Very proud of you xxx

£20.80
Sarah Nash
Congratulations on an amazing fundraiser! Lovely evening! Well done! Xx

£15.60
Vicki Rawles
You’ll smash it! #indestructable

£30.16
Georgina Voegele
Love you Auntie ❤️

£10.40
Sarah Mattison
Well done, good luck for tomorrow xx

£52
Helen And Roger
As you know Pancreatic Cancer took my mum and I would give anything to help other families avoid what we went through. So glad that you are continuing to be ok xxxxxxx

£52
James Bulfin
Good luck Karen!

£20
Pippa
Good luck Karen! Smash it! Sending lots of love xx

£30.16
Julia Cooper
Good luck tomorrow Karen, will be thinking of you!

£10.40
Phil

£23.20
Jake F
With all good wishes for your weekend endeavour. May Sunday arrive with haste. Yours faithfully

£8.52k
Anonymous
Very proud of you! Hope this helps the amazing cause.

£339.04
Anonymous
All the best lovely xx

£1.02k
Anonymous
Good luck!! X

£78
Kevin Bulfin
Good luck with the challenge and well done for all your hard work.

£20.80
Evelyn Conlon
Best of luck Karen.x

£25
Anonymous

£30.16
Anonymous
Well done for a worthy cause .

£31.20
B&b

£30.16
Lucy Bolton
Good luck with the singing!!

£31.20
Mandy Gasson
I am so sad that I could not be there in person to support you next weekend, so I felt I wanted to donate some more to this incredible cause xxx

£50
Mandy
Looking forward to clapping 24 times

£20.80
Ann Jones
Karen I wish I was able to share your special evening but sadly I can’t. I wanted to congratulate you on taking on this challenge 24 songs… wow! Good luck and best wishes you’ll smash it!

£5
Natalie Grundy

£20.80
Ross Strong

£13.52
Louisa Keating

£10.40
Jacqueline Nathan
Well done and good luck Much love Aunty Jackie

£10.40
Alexander Dunlop
Fantastic effort, well done Karen

£20
Anonymous
Your story is powerful, Karen. We're proud to be Taking it On with you, and everyone working towards a breakthrough in early diagnosis. x Claire & Pam

£8
Hugh C

£31.20
Melanie Thornton

£10.40
Cheryl Spencer

£5.20
Anonymous

£10.40
Jane L

£15.60
Becca Carozzi

£13.52
Anonymous

£10.40
Cherrie Edwards

£20
Geraldine Bland
Good luck, Karen!

£100
Mark At Shani
well done for all your hard work in raising money for such a worthy cause . Mark & all at Shani

£200
Mustard Systems
Inspirational! We are looking forward to seeing the video:) Hope you have beaten this cancer one and for all xx

£50
Anonymous
on behalf of Vladimijr Attard

£52
Keith Austin

£10.40
Jo Leverett
Wow, now that is brave. I could not do that ! Best of luck with this and all you do. You are very brave and strong lady. Lots of Love Jo xx

£5.20
Bethan Morgans

£20.80
Anne Costello

£52
Mr Ian B Park
Hoping the songs go well.congratulations on the fundraising. Ian.

£20.80
Charlotte
A brave lady in more ways than one!

£52
Gill And Neil
What a fantastic thing to do.We look forward to hearing you sing xx

£20.80
Spencer Kavanagh
Good Luck Karen From JPS!

£30.16
John Wareham
Amazing !!

£200
Geraldine Mckusick
Good luck😘

£30.16
Mark Simmons

£30.16
Tom Large
Good luck, Karen!

£30.16
Susannah Clements
Good luck Karen. What a fantastic idea!

£20.80
Judith Hunt
Well done on collecting so much xx

£20.80
Anna Stroud
Enjoy your evening of singing, I’m sure it will be amazing!

£31.20
Lorna Valcin
Awesome news Karen and look forward to supporting you on the 28th.

£20.80
Anonymous

£20.80
Suzanne Warren
Good luck x

£30
Abby
Proud of you! #indestructible

£208
Cj O'shea And Company Limited
Great cause all the best from all at CJ O'Shea and Company Limited

£26
David
Enjoy! I am sure you will be fantastic xx

£41.60
Jane Blyth
Really looking forward to hearing you sing Well done Karen x

£13.52
Polly & Mark
Can’t wait to join you at Sing24, you are going to be amazing!!! 🎤 🌟 💞💞

£20.80
Romana
Sing! Sing! Sing! Good luck Karen! Not that you’ll need it xxx

£30
Sue Brankin
Good Luck Karen, I know you can do it!

£10.40
Grace Chandler
You are a true inspiration

£52
Julie Mander
Have a great evening. Sorry we can't be with you on the night.

£20.80
Kim
You are a super star! Wishing you every success and lots of fun with your latest challenge, I’m sure you’ll have a fabulous time xx

£30.16
Laura + Justin Van Rooyen
Auntie Karen - what a worthy cause! Sending you lots of love. We are so excited and would love to join this event via Zoom!!!

£104
Anonymous

£13.52
Stuart Berry

£20.80
Adrian And Grace
Fair play for this and everything you've overcome over the last couple of years. We are behind you every step of the way x

£25
Kate & Mike
What an incredible challenge Karen! We know you will smash it and sing your heart out - wishing you all the best, all our love xx

£10
Lynda Kowalewicz
Keep singing Karen for such an amazing cause! Go go go xx

£10.40
Claire Larkman

£10.40
Ewa
All the best !!!!

£13.52
Caitlin B
Wishing you all the best Karen! X

£13
Kenny Gray
Can I request Wonderwall by Oasis?

£20.80
Jean Woodward
Go girl! You will be fabulous! Xx

£10.40
Joanna Mcgregor
Good Luck! Xx

£515
Anonymous
We are all very proud of you.

£26
Gerri Green
Hope you have fun doing this challenge. So pleased you continue to be cancer free xx

£100
Dom Bulfin

£30.16
Kat Stobbs
You got this!

£52
Barry & Karen
Bravo Karen, looking forward to hearing you sing!

£10.40
Suzanne Robertson
SING LOUD,SING CLEAR, FOR ALL TO HEAR. X

£50
Meg
Great challenge - good luck and have fun!!

£20.80
Suzanne Warren
Happy singing

£26
Mandy Gasson
Incredible! Wishing you all the best xxx

£52
Matt P
YAAAASSSS!!!! SIIINGGGAAAAA xxxx