Sponsored scooter ride for Worthing Breast Cancer Unit

Hello and welcome to my blog. It's lovely to see you again and I hope you've had time to enjoy this glorious weather.

I apologise for my recent absence but I wanted the dust to settle on the Rampion Off shore wind farm blogs, and needed time to catch up on my script for Shoreham Wordfest.

Now, regular readers will know that I've featured groups and individuals in the past and today I'm turning the spotlight on Mandy Lambe.

I met Mandy at a Swimbabes course in 2005 and we have been friends ever since.  As toddlers our boys were best friends and although they grew apart, we still met to share gossip, tragedies, advice, aspirations and jokes. She'll rib me for saying this, but she's one of the warmest, funniest yet unluckiest women I know; but that's not why she's here.

Mandy's organised a sponsored scooter in Worthing this Sunday 27th May to raise funds for the new breast clinic at Worthing Hospital. The event starts at Marine Gardens, at 1.00pm from whence a crowd of young children will scooter to Worthing Pier and back again. It's not a great distance but neither is the average age of those involved.

Mandy can talk the hind leg off a donkey so, without further ado, she'll tell you why.

Mandy and Billy Lambe

My name is Mandy Lambe and 2 years ago I received the devastating news that I had got breast cancer. I was 37 and Billy was 5 and with the wonderful love of Paul, my husband, Billy, and the love and support of our families and dear friends, we started a very difficult part of our lives.

After having chemotherapy, radiotherapy, a double mastectomy, and preventative surgery, I have been told that I am still at high risk of cancer returning, but I feel blessed for everything that has been done for me over the past 2 years.  Mr Bonomi, Dr Mitra and Fabio have been amazing; all the other doctors, nurses and everyone at the chemo and breast cancer unit at Worthing hospital have been totally wonderful and Me, Paul and Billy have received some amazing support and kindness. Hand on heart, I cannot fault anything these wonderful people have done and for that I will always be truly grateful.

However, throughout the time I have been ill, Billy, without even knowing it, has been the best medicine I could ever have had. To see his smiling face first thing in the morning gave me a reason to get up each day and fight this cancer. Even when I didn’t think I could keep going, he gave me the strength to want to carry on and get better. I honestly couldn’t have done it without him.

Now 2 years on he has asked me to help him arrange a sponsored scooter ride with his friends to raise money for the hospital. He says it’s to help other people with cancer because the hospital made my cancer go away. To say I was proud is an understatement.

I am waiting for two more operations so dearly wanted to do this before then.

I know the hospital need every penny; especially for the new breast cancer unit and I dearly hope that Billy manages to raise as much money as possible so that he can help others who are in our situation in the future.

We would be so grateful if you would be able and willing to sponsor Billy. We have not set a target as every penny would be wonderful.

Thank you so much,

Mandy and Billy. x

I hope you feel moved to help.  

Now we're rapidly approaching the Adur Festival and of course the Beach's own contribution, Beach Dreams.  Here's a glimpse of last year's shenanigans so you can see what we get up to down here.

Sadly I'll miss it this year but that won't stop me passing on all the crucial details in my next blog.

So have a great week and ta-ra for now.