International Women's Day

I was lucky enough to speak at two celebrations for International Women's Day. The first was on the subject of ‘Natural Remedies to Beat Fatigue’ and was at an event held at Endeavour House by Suffolk Council . The second was at the Suffolk Police headquarters and was on the subject of ‘Entrepreneurship’.

Interestingly, when I tell my story there is one issue that seems to generate a lot of interest – what made me follow my dream? When I meet groups of people I am always struck by the number of them who wish to change their lives. In my case, the motivating factor which precipitated the move from the corporate world of management in the motor trade to retraining as an aromatherapist and setting up my business was a bowel cancer scare and a colostomy (thankfully now reversed).

A brush with serious illness certainly makes one revaluate life and get on with doing what you want to do. I am keen to publicise the issues surrounding bowel cancer and am happy to talk to anyone facing a colostomy to reassure them. I know from experience that the fear is worse than the reality. My wish, is that a celebrity who lives with a colostomy will speak up in the same way that celebrities with breast cancer allow their stories to be publicised to support and inspire other sufferers. Someone once told me that Cliff Richard lives with a colostomy and that the Queen Mother had one. If it is true I do wish that someone close to them would tell us - it would be so reassuring (particularly in the case of Cliff Richard) to know that it is something that can be managed effectively.