cancer fundraising
I was thrilled when the legend that is Basil Brush agreed to be in The Record. I got to meet and speak to Basil at The Theatre Royal in Windsor in December 2017 where he was starring in Sleeping Beauty. There was a bowel cancer connection for this chapter, as sadly Basil’s creator Ivan Owen died
I found out recently that I have been nominated in the Fundraiser of the Year category in the 2019 Pride of Reading Awards.
I have been fortunate enough to meet a number of Olympic champions on my fundraising travels over the last few years, but the only time I actually got to touch an Olympic gold medal was when I met Jeanette Chippington, who won gold in Rio in 2016 in the KL1 200m Paracanoeing.
I met television and radio presenter Colin Murray for my new book The Record at the Sister Ray record shop in Soho. We had a lot of fun, and I can reveal that a very bizarre conversation involving customers, the manager, and first records has been included in the chapter on Colin.
During our chat Victoria wanted to know all about my book, and especially about Mum and her bowel cancer. Victoria still found it very emotional and difficult to talk about her own cancer experience
I was delighted when Justin Sullivan and New Model Army agreed to be in my new bowel cancer charity book, The Record.
Having followed The Alarm for over 35 years I set my sights to trying to get Smiley, Jules and James from the band to be in The Record. It took me about two years for it to happen, but I managed to get them for the new bowel cancer charity book, which is out now dedicated to the memory of my mum who died of this awful disease in 2016.
I have just sent £500 to Bowel Cancer UK from the proceeds raised by sales of The Record so far.
June 21 was the official publication date of The Record. It has been an incredibly long journey bringing the book together from the decision to do do it shortly after Mum’s death, to its finished state. It’s without doubt one of the best things I’ve ever done, something I feel very proud and passionate about.
Of all the chapters in The Record that I wish Mum had got to see was the chapter with Olympic equestrian gold medal winner Carl Hester at his stables in Gloucestershire.
