September 16th 2015

This photo was taken one year to the day of my mastcetomy. It was a huge milestone to me that I had made a year on as 4 other ladies I had become friends with had not. I did this as a big F U cancer !

I had the idea around a week before and contacted Steve Wellum who has always taken all my photographs whether they be family, or my fitness modelling for the past 25 years. I explained to Steve what I wanted and that I would like it taken on September 16th. Of course he agreed and also made no charge whatsoever for this. 

I contacted ABC After Breast Cancer care to ask if first of all it would be ok with them, as I wanted to use the picture for the October breast cancer awareness month to help raise awareness. They agreed it was a great idea and very brave of me. So with that I asked if I could use a banner to have in the background of the shot to help raise even more awarness.

So with the shot all done and dusted it only took a couple of days for Steve to get the finished photo on disc to me which was fantastic. I was very proud I had come so far. With the chemo all done my hair had started to grow back very slowly.

October 1st 2015 the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness month I posted the picture on my Facebook timeline and oh my god I had no idea what was about to happen.

Within hours of the picture being live it had been shared many hundreds of times all over Jersey, UK and different countries around the world. I was totally shocked by this. 

So many people were commenting on the post, saying how inspirational I was ! I had only done this picture as a one year im still alive milestone for me and to just raise a little awarness for breast cancer month. I was completely blown away by what was happening.

Then I was alerted by facebook that the photograph had been reported for nudity. Well obviously I checked out all this before I posted it !!! drrrrrr to the dumbwit who reported it (several times I might add!! but I know who SHE is. Facebook allow any mastcetomy or breastfeeding picture. So it remained on my feed and a hell of a lot of other peoples too. 

It was picked up by Channel Television and I was asked to go in for a live interview on the news,  which of course I did. 

CTV INTERVIEW

I then received a phonecall from BBC Radio Jersey and Channel 103 Radio station both asking me for an interview which I did over the phone and this was aired. Meanwhile the photo was still being shared all over the globe. 

I then made the Mirror online newspaper ! how crazy is that.

JEP Front page

How crazy to even then go on to make front page of the Jersey Evening Post ! I was so so shocked my story and photo was so loved I was and still am truly so over whelmed by it all. Thank you so much to everyone who shared my post I am so very grateful to you all .

I was also featured in the Bailiwick Express. Photo of the week at Steve Wellum’s studio plus other magazines. Breast cancer awareness month was certainly just that .

Fundraisers

I went on to do several fundraisers with the help of my wonderful loyal friends. So much fun and for the best cause xx