Cancer sucks! Let’s face it there is just no beating around the bush on this it is a cruel, insidious, nasty illness that takes lives too soon, has the potential to destroy families and the treatment seems almost too horrible to imagine.

I doubt very much if any of you who are reading this don’t know at least one person in real life that has been treated for some form of cancer in some way. Whether it be by surgery, chemo, radiation, all of the above. I have had cancer surgically removed myself three times! My darling nephew has fought a fight with brain cancer and is doing incredibly well nearly 6yrs since diagnosis. My Pop had bowel cancer. A dear mum (well quite a number actually) at school has fought breast cancer, a dear friend in Perth, a precious little girl in Melbourne lost her fight and her twin brother is doing well after his own battle, a reader sent me a message to say she is currently battling breast cancer, beautiful Julia Watson, my cousin’s wife and the list goes on.

This is just off the top of my head and people I directly know. I am sure that if I sat down and wrote out all the names of people I know or knew who have battled cancer it could potentially be in the dozens and I am only 45. I don’t remember growing up surrounded by as much cancer as there is today. Of course that could be because we have much better diagnostic tools, cancer is potentially diagnosed earlier, treatments are more available who knows. I did hear this morning that cancer has officially overtaken heart disease as the number 1 killer in Australia. Clearly there is a problem.

In the midst of all of the sadness of cancer there are organisations like the Cancer Council that offer hope. They have one big fundraiser a year. According to the Cancer Council’s website, Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is a chance for Australians to get together and raise money for a great cause. 1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85. Can we just sit on that for a minute 1 in 2!!! We currently have a population of about    24 million that means 12 million Australians at some point in their life will be diagnosed with cancer!

One dollar at a time you are making a real difference helping to fund Cancer Council’s vital research, prevention and support service programmes.

$25: Funds resources to support GPs and health professionals advising patients on cancer prevention, screening and diagnosis.

$50: Ensures a cancer nurse is available on our free, confidential telephone service (13 11 20) to offer support on all aspects of cancer.

$100: Allows us to support childcare centres and primary schools taking part in the National Sunsmart Schools Program.

$500:  Helps fund the provision of telephone and web-based support groups facilitated by trained peer volunteers and health professionals. 

$1000: Brings our ground-breaking research into new and better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

In honour of the Biggest Morning Tea here is a recipe.

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Brownie Biscuits

Kit xoxo