DONNYBROOK local Susy Glenister is getting ready to cycle for a cause very close to her heart – raising money for kids with cancer.
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After being diagnosed with cancer last year, she has now been ten months in remission, and is planning to give something back by entering the Great Cycle Challenge, a program where participants are sponsored to clock up kilometres towards a set target on the bicycle over the month of October. She has already raised more than $3,000 and is aiming for $5,000.
“I am just one of the thousands of people who have gone through the cancer journey,” Ms Glenister said.
“No I think cancer rollercoaster would better describe it, and come out the other side,” she said.
“I was hardly a candidate for cancer, I have always been fit, actively participating in triathlons and teaching group fitness, mainly Boxing for Fitness, Aqua Aerobics, Body Pump, Step. ]
The beginning of Bunbury triathlon season in September 2012 was the start of a spiral effect to being diagnosed in January 2013 with Advanced Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
“It started with a visit to the Doctor, then an ultrasound, then a fine needle biopsy then a chest CT X-ray. Then the phone call at night from a Doctor saying you have a mass on your chest and lesions all through your body and “God be with you”.
"Yes, not exactly the call you want."
“Fortunately I was in to see the Oncologist the following day and my future sounded a lot brighter than the sleepless night we all had the night before. Waiting for results for my family and I was the most distressing time.
"I knew my next step was to go up to Perth for a Pet Scan and then a Bone Marrow Biopsy and then within a week I was in Hospital having my lymph node removed and a port being put in for chemotherapy.
"A bloody lot to deal with over a few weeks and I hadn’t even been back for my staging results as this stage so I felt a bit like a moose looking into a set of head lights at night,” she said.
“Chemotherapy was every two weeks followed by Neulasta injections then to top it off a month of radiotherapy.
"Just when I thought I was all finished and starting to get back into my fitness I lost feeling in both my hands - Carpal tunnel and trigger thump, which is one of the side effects from Chemotherapy that you don’t get told about.
"Words cannot describe what I went through at this time but the old friends and new friends in and around Donnybrook were unbelievable and helped me all the way and I will forever be grateful to them all.
“I really wanted to see the end of 2013, so I didn’t hesitate to get both my hands operated on. I feel like a new women with a second chance in life.”
Ms Glenister said 2014 had been a new year and a fresh start.
“I am back teaching group fitness classes at the Donnybrook Rec Centre again. Jill McLean and the Donnybrook Rec centre Staff have been supporting me all the way.
"I never thought it was going to be easy on the road to recovery, but my challenge to the Donnybrook people is come and join me, have a go. You do not have to be great to start, to start is being great,” she said.
Ms Glenister’s Great Cycle Challenge target is for 300km, which she will complete throughout October on both indoor and outdoor bicycles.
A fundraising night will be held at the Donnybrook Rec Centre on October 31, the last day of the challenge. Ms Glenister said she would probably bring the last kilometre or two home inside the centre on one of the bikes there.
Anyone who is interested in finding out more can go to https://greatcyclechallenge.com.au.
“I think people should dig deep, it’s a good, cause, kids should have their whole future ahead of them,” Ms Glenister said.