“My name is Maddie, I was 20 years old when my Gastroenterologist found thousands of polyps in my intestines and stomach due to having familial polyposis. We knew there was a 50/50 chance of me having it as it runs in my family with my dad and grandma having it. Luckily for myself none of my polyps in my stomach or intestines were actively cancerous at the time but it was a quick move to have a total colectomy. From now it means I require a yearly colonoscopy and gastroscopy to ensure the polyps that will be continually developing don’t turn cancerous.
I’m raising money because if it hadn’t been for the progress in bowel cancer awareness, fundraising and the research behind new advancements; my dad would not be alive today and I wouldn’t have a clue about what’s been developing in my body until it potentially could be too late. So, it’s time for me to try give back to an organisation I never knew would have such an important impact on my life and the lives of so many others.
I am now back to living a normal life and am able to travel and do everything in life I’d always wanted to do. My dad is an active 60-year-old who has spent many years post his surgery (he had his when he was 27 years old) travelling, living an active lifestyle and raising a family with my mum. I also wanted to share my story for Bowel Cancer Awareness Month to encourage others to not be afraid to get checked early because if you find it early, it can be stopped.” ~ Maddie.
If you were inspired by Maddie's fundraising activities and would like to support Bowel Cancer Australia through Dry July further details are available here.
