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Sing 24

By Karen Bulfin

Support me to Take It On!

Raised

£13,581 + £2,966.41 GiftAid

My Goal

£5,000

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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! 

A huge thank you to everyone who made the event happen and to all who came along or sent messages of support. There was just so much love in the room and we had an absolute ball but above all we have raised a ridiculous amount of money for Pancreatic Cancer UK. Job done!

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.

I never thought I'd be saying this but with 2 more days to go the target is now going up to £5000. 


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. 

And talking of money..... thanks to your enormous generosity we have now smashed the £3000 target, so with a week to go it increases again! We've come so far from my original £500 target, let's take it on once more - £3500 - we've got this!

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

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! 

Obviously this has meant another target increase and this time I have gone all out for the £3000. Can we do it? I really hope so!

I'm not going to lie - the challenge has got tough now. If it wasn't bad enough suffering the effects of too much singing, some song changes due to people unfortunately  no longer being available has made this week feel like I'm going backwards not forwards. Still we've just over 2 weeks to go and it wouldn't be a challenge if it were easy would it? Time to put the big girl pants on and get on with it!! 

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!

But on a more positive note I'm just £50 off the total amount I raised last year with 3 more weeks to go.  The support from everyone is just amazing. Thank you so much x

Another target increase!

Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!  Just smashed through the £2000 target and so it goes up to £2500! 

I have to admit that I was worried when I saw that some of the bigger cancer charities were doing November challenges. With pancreatic cancer being low profile I thought people would gravitate towards the better known causes, starving pancreatic cancer UK of desperately needed funds. In fact I am one of only 1625 people fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK this November. That's not a lot really, but you are behind me and together we are taking it on and raising heaps of money,  so....... I'll sing to that! Your support means so much, thank you xxx

A million thank yous to everyone . 


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. 

This is has spurred me on in the struggle to learn SO MANY song words! We've got this!

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!

Still a lot of learning to do before the big night but living, sleeping and breathing songs is a whole lot better than living, sleeping and breathing cancer so I'll take that any day!

Thank you everyone who has already donated but I really want to beat last year's total so keep the donations coming in if you possibly can. And don't forget to let me know if you are joining us on 29th November. I'd so love to see you there! xx

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!

A massive thank you to everyone who has donated so generously, I am truly overwhelmed by your support xxx 

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! 
Do I care? Not at all, because thanks to some very generous people  I have already raised £882 towards my target and with any luck completing this challenge will raise a whole lot more money for this important cause. 

Please, please, please donate and help save lives and  I really would like to see you at St Lawrence Church Hall on 28th November for the great singathon! xx
 

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