Hello! Thank you for taking the time to visit Funny Women and reading my first blog from the Race for Life frontline. I will be reporting back regularly over the next couple of months.
I have been performing comedy for about five years now and have often had the privilege of being part of some wonderful charity events but nothing has made me prouder than being asked by Funny Women to represent them in their partnership with Cancer Research UK's Race For Life. You see, it isn't just another 'gig' for me. Let me explain (are you sitting comfortably?…then I'll begin…go get a cup of tea…and a biccie….treat yourself).
My family and I have been taking part in Race For Life since 2002. We wear a picture of Sulina. We write her name on our backs. Sulina was more than the girl my brother was going to marry, she was an adored daughter, a loving sister, popular workmate, a compassionate human being, a smiler, the biggest fan of Disney I've ever met….and a great friend.
Sulina worked at the Disney Store and loved her job so much she even won an award and my brother had an engagement ring specially made to look like Mickeys ears! She took part in sign language classes so she could communicate better with all the people visiting the store and share her passion for all things Walt! A testiment to her friendship to me was that she sold lots of her precious Disney videos to raise enough money for the fare to visit me in Tenerife when I worked there… we had such a good time.
Sulina had bravely battled Leukaemia and proved to be quite an inspiration. Coping with the awful effects of the treatment (that would have most hiding away and shopping for hats) with humour she would sign off her letters 'Baldy' and even put glow in the dark hair gel on her head for a laugh on a night out! I know that I would not have been so positive and carefree and thats a rare quality. Besides, who's looking at your head when you have such lovely blue eyes anyway?
My nan was in hospital at the same time at one point and Sulina would take a little walk to go and visit her and bring her puzzle books to cheer her up, as well as other patients on her ward. It was hard to see her so poorly, especially when she was in 'barrier' and you couldn't give her a hug. She had down days but she wouldn't want anyone to feel sorry for her, she loved to watch the Jerry Springer show from her hospital bed and laugh.
Sulina got better. Life went on, but a couple years later I received a text from her: 'The Leukaemia is back, I'm going out to get pissed tonight!' . No self-pity…making the most of life. A few months later she tragically passed away. She was 23.
I really do not want to dwell on such a horrible time. All I will say is I will never forget the smell of all of those flowers…..Or how packed the church was that day. Sulina has a wonderful family and three sisters who miss her terribly but keep her alive in their hearts with various charity fundraising events, over the years they have raised thousands for the ward and related charities.
Sulina's sisters take part in Race For Life each year taking her picture with them all the way! You can always pop round for a cuppa and the house is filled with pictures and memories and we have a good natter about Sulina and happy times. I spoke to her mum, Marlene, last night and she said is proud that we can keep the memory alive this way and that Sulina would be smiling.
It will be 10 years next month since Sulina's death and I can think of no better tribute than to have people read about her and know how loved she was and still is. I'm glad that people can read this and say her name. At one Race for Life event in Plymouth we were approached by a lady who caught us up (yes we were power walking you know!) to tell us she used to teach Sulina, and also my mum and aunties were photographed without their knowledge (from behind, much to my mums horror!) and put on a website where people made comments about how loved Sulina must have been.
That's the wonderful thing about Race For Life….as well as raising money and awareness it's time for everyone to get together and reflect and share experience. So many names, so many photos. There are happy stories and sad stories. You can read so much into those words 'I race for life in celebration of…', 'I race for life in memory of…'. And in the minutes silence before we set off you know that you are not alone and that amazing feeling of unity makes the hairs on my arms stand up like nothing else!
I know for certain that if Sulina was here with us she would be marching alongside us with her fairy wings/tutu/Mickey Mouse ears/sparkly wig with a huge grin on her face!
Thank you for reading.
Coming soon…..my experience at Race for Life in Battersea Park,the first of many for 2011, meeting an athletic legend, and my excitement at receiving my brand new diet challenge for the summer…the Jane Plan.
Suzy Bennett
