CC Day 24 – Guest Post by Andrea Sheardown

I feel so lucky to be alive and value every day with my precious family!

I’m 45, run my own business from home, I’m a mum to 3 beautiful children (Amelia 15, Sam 13 and Ben 5), and have an amazing husband.  My world was turned upside down just over a year ago, when I was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma. I’d been suffering with some pain in my ribcage for a while which got increasingly worse. Following a few trips to the doctors I managed to get someone to take me seriously and agree to do an X-ray. I was told my tumour was the size of a small pineapple, which has since become a comical topic of conversation in our household!

Following numerous scans and consultations, I was given the news that they could perform a liver re-section and had this in November last year.  I have since undergone 6 months of gruelling chemotherapy, which finished in July this year.  My future is still very uncertain, but I face every day with positivity and the faces of my children and husband spur me on.

My mission now is to raise as much funds and awareness that I can for the wonderful AMMF. I kick started this on the 26th November by climbing Snowdon (a year after surgery), raising just over £2,500 so far. Two further climbs are planned in the next couple of months (Scafell Pike and then Ben Nevis) and I have already received further pledges from local businesses worth over £3000!

I am a very positive person and know I am very lucky to still be here and with the love and support of my family and friends will face every day with passion and determination.

My motto is – NEVER GIVE UP!

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/AndreaSheardownSnowdon

Andrea and Team Conquer Snowdon