13/06/2026
Thank you to everyone who left such beautiful comments on my last post about ringing the bell. I really hope it helps others feel a little less alone.
I’ll continue…
As I explained, when I rang the bell I was elated. I thought that once treatment was finished, I’d simply pick up my life where I left off. I soon realised it wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought.
My confidence was at an all-time low. I didn’t know how to pick up the pieces of my shattered life. I didn’t look the same and felt vain for caring because surely none of that should matter as long as I was still alive. My whole thought process had changed too. I wanted to give something back.
I spent days searching for an in-person cancer support group in Sunderland. If I was struggling to cope surely there must be others? I couldn’t believe it when my local hospital told me there wasn’t one.
What?! Nothing!!
At the time, the nearest centres were Maggie’s in Newcastle and Cancer Connections in South Shields. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve visited both places and they are absolutely incredible at what they do. I could travel because I drive, but not everyone can. And did I really want to travel that far on public transport with a reduced immune system whilst feeling so low about myself?
I knew I had to try and do something to help the people of Sunderland and the surrounding areas.
To cut a long story short, Pallion Action Group kindly gave me a free room and supported me with designing flyers to advertise the first group session. I will be forever grateful to them for giving me a chance.
On 6th October, having only finished radiotherapy three weeks earlier, I sat alone in an empty room with my baseball cap covering my bald head, hoping that a few people might call in for a cuppa and a chat with others who truly understood what they were going through.
I was absolutely blown away when 28 people came to that very first group.
We chatted over tea and biscuits, shared a few laughs and shed a few tears. One thing was certain—we were amongst people who truly understood.
The medical treatment we receive is absolutely gold standard, and I will be forever grateful to the NHS for saving my life. But a cancer diagnosis is so much more than treatment. There are often physical and emotional needs that go unmet.
That’s where my passion, and now our passion, lies.
That group became Together We Can - Northeast.
We are founded on lived experience. We understand that once you’ve rung the bell, it can feel like you’ve fallen off a cliff edge. Sometimes you just need a helping hand to get through each day, or support to find the new version of yourself.
For those living with cancer, they don’t want pity and they don’t want to feel like a burden. They want to feel empowered. They want advice, support and tools that help them help themselves. What can they do to live well with cancer for as long as possible?
I’m not saying exercise, yoga or chatting with like minded people will help you live longer, but surely they can help improve quality of life. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what we all want?
We are only a small charity, but we are always looking for ways to support those who need us. All we ask is that you support us in our mission. Share our posts and like our page. Comment on our posts to help others.
One day, we hope to have a cancer wellbeing hub, right here in Sunderland. A place where people can drop in for a friendly cuppa, a benefits check, or a relaxing reiki session. We’ll get there in time.
Below is a picture of me and my beautiful son on our first holiday, around a year after treatment ended. I am living proof that you will come out the other end, you will find your purpose again.
If there’s one thing I hope people take from these posts, it’s this: you will start to put the pieces of your life back together. You will find a new perspective, and you may even find yourself wanting to support others who may going through something similar, just like I did. 🧡
