WE RAISED
£2825.50
19th Oct 2022
Jeanine Murtagh raises more funds for Burney Breast Unit.
9 years ago, I underwent a preventative surgery due to our very high family history of breast cancer. We had undergone genetic testing due to my Mum having had breast cancer twice and 2 other maternal female relatives. My risk was high, and I was told I had an 87% chance of having the disease within my lifetime. I decided I didn’t want to wait around to potentially get breast cancer as I felt my life was on hold and my anxiety regarding the disease was extremely high. I took the huge decision to have preventative surgery. Miss Chagla performed a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction on 10th October 2013, a date I will never forget. As I was familiar with the Burney Breast unit, I always felt I was in good, safe understanding hands and put total trust in Miss Chagla and her team, who, at every step of my journey kept me informed of all decisions, choices, and surgeries. I can never thank her enough, as soon as I woke up after my surgery, I just felt relief and a weight had been taken off my shoulders. I knew I had made the right decision for me.
So on the first anniversary after my operation, I wanted to do something positive and raise funds for the unit so I held a fundraising event. It was a success, so I decided to continue each year around the anniversary date. We are now on ‘Boob do 9’. Over the past 9 years I estimate we are nearing £10,000 in total funds raised.
Unfortunately, I lost my beautiful Mum (Irene Fraser) last November to breast cancer after she fought the disease twice before, this time it had spread to her bones. So, this year's event was dedicated to my Mum as she loved these yearly events. It was bigger and better than ever this year, the final total raised was £2825.50!! People were so generous with their donations, and we had such a brilliant evening, plenty fun, dancing, and raffles galore!
Jeanine Murtagh