rivers2cross

Towards the end of last year I had a video chat with Nicole Cooper for The Record. She lives in Melbourne with her husband Tim and son Joshua, and although it was a shame we couldn’t meet up in person, I was grateful to modern technology for making her inclusion in the book possible. In June Nicole came to London, so we were finally able to meet face-to-face, and I could give her copy to her in person.

Nicole has stage 4 bowel cancer, and the chapter covers her story from her awful diagnosis when she was told that her cancer was inoperable and the offer of palliative care, to getting a second opinion and grasping the small window of opportunity and fighting every step of the way since over the last couple of years. A short break in treatment allowed the family to make the trip to Europe, but Nicole has had to have more lung surgery since returning home, and she is currently going through some brutal chemotherapy, so my thoughts are with her as she continues to fight this awful disease.

I began work on The Record in September 2016 within days of my mum’s death to bowel cancer. She was diagnosed in 2012, and lived with bowel cancer for four and a half years. The book is dedicated to her memory, and I am donating all proceeds I make from sales to Bowel Cancer UK. The book has raised over £800 so far.

The Record features chapters on my meetings with people from the bowel cancer community. As well as Nicole, I’ve met Deborah James, Kelly Smith, Greg Gilbert, and Liv Rowlands to name but a few. I’ve also met people from the world of sport, television, and music – there’s something for everyone.

I have made so many friendships through the bowel cancer fundraising which I began in 2012 after Mum had the initial operation on her bowel to remove the tumour. To finally get to meet Nicole in person was a real highlight for me, and I’m extremely grateful for all her support and allowing me to share her story in the book.

Please click here to see all the ways that you can buy The Record.