Yesterday, a Gloucestershire Radio reporter visited our Heidi's Heroes exercise class, at the start of Breast Cancer Awareness week.
The charity was launched in 2013 as an ongoing tribute to Heidi Wood, a former world championship swimmer from Cheltenham, who died of cancer in 2012 at the age of 51.
Heidi’s Heroes, Cheltenham-based charity (heidisheroes.co.uk)
After interviewing Heidi's daughter Millie, fitness instructor Kelly and resident physiotherapist Rhidi, the reporter asked for contributions from those of us who had benefited from the group's support. With a couple of minutes warning, I said something like this ...
"At the start of 2021, whilst working as a consultant at GCHQ, I registered to run the Great South Run in Portsmouth on my 60th birthday, then had to pull out when diagnosed with breast cancer. Although previously capable and self-reliant, going through chemo I reached a point where I knew I needed outside help, especially as my Dad was dying from cancer at the same time.
After the main treatment, I continued to get as much as help as I could, initially from Maggies Centres and MacMillan Next Steps, then on-going support from Heidi's Heroes.
The fitness classes enabled me to recover physical fitness, but the emotional support has been invaluable too, meeting with other people who know what it's like.
As a result, I've run the Cheltenham 10K, left consultancy and published my first historical crime novel Paying in Blood. Next Wednesday I'll be speaking about it at Cheltenham Literature Festival.
None of this would not be possible if I had not regained sufficient strength through support from Heidi's Heroes."
