Post by Macmoish on Oct 26, 2010 8:51:43 GMT
Don't think I ever saw this previously. Best of luck to them both
Bolton News - Charity goal for wife of ex-football player
Tuesday 26th October 2010
JUST over a year ago, Debbie Dowie’s life seemed perfect.
A fairytale house in Lostock, a wonderful ex-Premier League player husband and two clever and sporty sons at Bolton School.
Then, she discovered a lump in her breast and life changed forever.
Having been successfully treated for breast Cancer, she has now set up a charity — Boot Out Breast Cancer, which aims to raise thousands of pounds for the latest life-saving diagnostic equipment for the North-west.
The first fundraiser is a glittering Boot Out Breast Cancer Bollywood Ball at The Monastery in Manchester, to be attended by patrons Alan Shearer OBE and Paralympic hero Sarah Storey OBE on November 13.
Mrs Dowie said: It has taken over my life — I had no idea how much would be involved.”
But in August last year, the 43-yearold’s life was completely different.
Following the discovery of a lump in her breast, she along with former QPR player, ex-West Ham manager and now TV pundit husband, Iain, were in a whirlwind of hospital appointments.
Mrs Dowie, who has had friends who have battled the disease, said: “To be honest, the diagnosis was a bit of a shock, but also a relief — I felt better knowing what it was, I was OK with it.
“My husband was upset. We had nursed his mum at home who had Cancer and died the year before. As for my boys (Ollie, aged 17, and Will, 14), because I was so strong and so positive, and I wasn’t ill, I don’t think they were affected by it all.”
As the Royal Bolton Hospital couldn’t operate immediately, she opted to go private and 20 days after the diagnosis, Mrs Dowie underwent a full mastectomy and immediate reconstruction at The Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle.
Following tests on the Cancerous cells, carried out in Los Angeles, it emerged the mum-of-three did not need chemotherapy.
And just six weeks after her surgery she was running again. Mrs Dowie said: “I spoke to my surgeon after I had my reconstruction, and I said I was so grateful, I would really like to do something.
“He told me about the latest diagnostic equipment. I have been involved with charities and fundraising for the last 13 years. For me, it sounds strange, but sometimes things happen for a reason.”
Now, every penny the charity makes will go towards buying the equipment. Mrs Dowie said: “Hopefully we will help save people’s lives, give people a better quality of life. So many people have been offering support, we have a sponsor, Zeus, a private equity firm, and my husband is fully behind me.
The Bollywood Ball is something completely different, and we have lots of plans in the pipeline”
● Boot Out Breast Cancer will initially fund-raise for equipment for the Nightingale Centre at the University Hospital of South Manchester, which treats people from across the region.
There are still some seats for the Bollywood Ball available at £125 per ticket. For more information, see bootoutbreastCancer.org.uk
www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/8474822.Charity_goal_for_wife_of_ex_football_player/
Bolton News - Charity goal for wife of ex-football player
Tuesday 26th October 2010
JUST over a year ago, Debbie Dowie’s life seemed perfect.
A fairytale house in Lostock, a wonderful ex-Premier League player husband and two clever and sporty sons at Bolton School.
Then, she discovered a lump in her breast and life changed forever.
Having been successfully treated for breast Cancer, she has now set up a charity — Boot Out Breast Cancer, which aims to raise thousands of pounds for the latest life-saving diagnostic equipment for the North-west.
The first fundraiser is a glittering Boot Out Breast Cancer Bollywood Ball at The Monastery in Manchester, to be attended by patrons Alan Shearer OBE and Paralympic hero Sarah Storey OBE on November 13.
Mrs Dowie said: It has taken over my life — I had no idea how much would be involved.”
But in August last year, the 43-yearold’s life was completely different.
Following the discovery of a lump in her breast, she along with former QPR player, ex-West Ham manager and now TV pundit husband, Iain, were in a whirlwind of hospital appointments.
Mrs Dowie, who has had friends who have battled the disease, said: “To be honest, the diagnosis was a bit of a shock, but also a relief — I felt better knowing what it was, I was OK with it.
“My husband was upset. We had nursed his mum at home who had Cancer and died the year before. As for my boys (Ollie, aged 17, and Will, 14), because I was so strong and so positive, and I wasn’t ill, I don’t think they were affected by it all.”
As the Royal Bolton Hospital couldn’t operate immediately, she opted to go private and 20 days after the diagnosis, Mrs Dowie underwent a full mastectomy and immediate reconstruction at The Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle.
Following tests on the Cancerous cells, carried out in Los Angeles, it emerged the mum-of-three did not need chemotherapy.
And just six weeks after her surgery she was running again. Mrs Dowie said: “I spoke to my surgeon after I had my reconstruction, and I said I was so grateful, I would really like to do something.
“He told me about the latest diagnostic equipment. I have been involved with charities and fundraising for the last 13 years. For me, it sounds strange, but sometimes things happen for a reason.”
Now, every penny the charity makes will go towards buying the equipment. Mrs Dowie said: “Hopefully we will help save people’s lives, give people a better quality of life. So many people have been offering support, we have a sponsor, Zeus, a private equity firm, and my husband is fully behind me.
The Bollywood Ball is something completely different, and we have lots of plans in the pipeline”
● Boot Out Breast Cancer will initially fund-raise for equipment for the Nightingale Centre at the University Hospital of South Manchester, which treats people from across the region.
There are still some seats for the Bollywood Ball available at £125 per ticket. For more information, see bootoutbreastCancer.org.uk
www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/8474822.Charity_goal_for_wife_of_ex_football_player/