When I had cancer at age 29 in 2010 wolo didn't exist yet, so when I was diagnosed a second time this year I didn't make contact straight away. However once my surgery had been done I realised all the trauma of both cancers caught up with me and I felt like I had been hit by a train of emotions. My mental health was suffering and I felt disconnected from the world.

I reached out to wolo initially to ask for funding towards some talking therapies. I was so pleasantly surprised by what came back! I was immediately sent a £100 shopping voucher which was such a blessing and a treat. I was also very quickly invited on the wolo wellbeing retreat. I jumped at this as it sounded like exactly what I needed to help me process and recover from everything that had happened.

The retreat itself absolutely blew me away. The location, food, and hospitality of the wolo team was so nurturing and loving from the moment we arrived. Within a short space of time connections were formed within our group- something about our shared experience meant so much was already known without us having to explain it to eachother. The retreat taught me lessons that will forever change me. We learned how to trust our bodies again (so hard after cancer as it feels like your body is your enemy) and use our breath to help connect our minds and bodies.

We worked on releasing trauma and building resilience in the kindest most accepting and gentle way. It truly was utterly restorative for body and mind. As I was so new to wolo I asked what else there was (!!) And was told about the alfriston cabins. We jumped at the chance to go and it was a wonderful opportunity to escape normal life and make time to be together as a family. We were very lucky with the weather on one of our days and were able to spend most of the day walking and enjoying the gorgeous natural landscape together. We honestly feel like we have been given such a treat from wolo. It absolutely blows me away.

Cancer is devastating and changes you forever. But there are lessons and perspectives you only gain from an experience like it, when the floor falls away from under you. It felf after treatment like I had been cut into a thousand pieces. I am grateful to wolo for helping me learn how to put myself back together again.