Hello friend,
I really hope that 2025 has started well for you.
I thought that it was about time I opened up about whats been happening behind the scenes and why I have been hiding away recently.
Many of you already know that 2024 has been incredibly tough and a life changing year for me. I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer on the 11th of January 2024 at the age of 49. This came totally out of the blue with no signs or symptoms and no family history of disease. My life immediately fell apart. I watched the future I thought I had, slip away from my grasp. I entered into the world of being a Cancer patient. Sadly it meant that I couldn't host any of the Campervan Retreats I had so excitedly planned and organised and I thought the business would colapse around me.
Horray for Jakki.....
Luckily a very special lady, Jakki Hesse came to my rescue and promised to run the retreats with love and care whilst I completed my rigourous rounds of chemo and radiotherapy. Jakki, already a close friend, was nothing short of an angel and did the most amazing job of holding a safe space, making the retreats delightful and giving it her heart and soul. Jakki also bought along with her the amazing Ian Dale, her partner in crime who supported the retreats and enabled Jax to do her magic. During this time Jakki worked along side Caron who delivered her passionate yoga experiences (and much more!) and what a team they turned out to be.
I always knew that after my active treatment was finished I would be back at the helm but the emotional roller coaster that I had been forced onto made me doubt everything, especially my own capabilities.
At the end of the season, following the final retreat in September Jakki and Ian moved on to running a new micro brewery. The reality of that meant they had to make the decison to not to be a part of Campervan Retreats going forward. Our original plan would be Jakki and I would grow the business together, so a big change.
Now I needed to get my BIG GIRL PANTS on - I was on my own and I needed to step up.
The problem was how could I step back in and fill Jakki's very earthy, spiritual shoes, How could I empower other women to escape on adventures when all I wanted to do was hide at home expecting the cancer to return at any moment.
To add to the pressure I also have an employed role managing a wellness centre in a beautful retirement village and during my cancer treatment this company - Inspired Villages supported me the whole time. with no pressure to work during treatment just their love and kindness, I went back in September to my "near" full time and demanding role. (probably far too soon!)
In October I made a decision that I would stop the retreats and fold the business.
Sad but a relief that I had finally made a decison.
The truth was I had been beated, cancer hadn't only take my breast, my hair, my soul but It also stole my beloved business.
I needed time to take a breath!!
It was nearly a wrap:
I knew that the 2025 retreats were already viable with lots of repeat and new bookings and lots of women already excited to attend. I didn't want to let people down so I made a couple of adjustments and committed to one last Summer - 2025
Luckily this meant some reflection time and I began to realise that Campervan Retreats is too special to give up on, we had all worked so hard to keep it going during such a challenging year, but I needed help!
The good stuff:
In January two more angels entred my life. Namely the formidable Adelle Martin and the nurturing Fiona Shoults.
I saw a facebook post that really jumped out at me.......
Stronger Together Through Cancer is a charity organisation based in Kent, launched by two women following their own cancer journeys. Immediately I thought, "This organisation is a timely miracle! maybe I did have somewhere to turn to for business help from people who really understood my challenges" Fast forward a month and I am now receiving free business coaching from Adelle who is a highly successful, award winning business woman as she helps me navigate through. I will probably leave my job in the early Summer, I am currently studying to be a Cancer Exercise Specialist which will enable me to work with cancer patients and help them throughout their journey and it can sit along side Campervan Retreats. I finally see that this is just the beginning of something even more exciting! |
Help
I do need your help though....
First of all thank you for reading my update, its great that you are interested in Campervan Retreats and the story so far.
Please come along
If you are even tempted to join us check out the remaining spaces available this year and if you can please do come along. I need all the support and encouragement I can get to emerge beyond my cancer story and continue my mission of bringing women together for adventure, joy and laughter.
Please like and share
Social media is the devil in diguise and definitely an area on which I need to reach out to get help with, its exhausting at the best of times, but if you can do one thing to help a small business, it's to comment, share and like their posts if they resinate with you. It really does help!
Collaborate
If you have skills or a passion that would fit with Campvervan Retreats please get in contact. I am looking to collaborate with others to offer new workshops, experiences, overnight and day events across the UK. info@campervanretreats.co.uk
Please check your boobs
My "conscious" cancer story started the day I found a tiny pea sized lump in my right breast.(actually there were three!)
I have tiny boobs (size A) so I hardly ever checked, thinking I wasn't really at risk (I was wrong!)
If I can give you one piece of advise its to regularly check your breasts. If I had found the lump earlier my treatment and potential outcome could have been very different.
Watch this space, a new chapter is emerging.
With much love, Sara
x
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