Alice Greaves hasn’t stopped fund-raising for charity since she was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 24 years old. Alice and her family created a garden at the Belvoir Castle Flower show which raised money for Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre. Now she’s planning a 125 mile bike ride in aid of Hope Against Cancer.

Alice had a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer two years ago.

“It tipped my whole life upside down and smashed it into a million pieces when I was told, sorry but you’ve got breast cancer. Even the specialist was shocked. This is going to be the hardest chapter of my life, but it won’t be my whole life.”

Alice underwent 18 months of chemotherapy only to be told in May this year she had secondary breast cancer with lesions in her lungs. She will begin further treatment in September, surgery and further chemotherapy to ‘hopefully bring things under control.’

“At 26, I’ve had some pretty devastating news, but I’m just going to focus on enjoying every moment, every day, with my wonderful partner and my fantastic, supportive family. They are there for me every step of the way, and no one could have better support than I’ve had.”

Alice’s sponsored bike ride has already reached £48,247 of her £50,000 target. There’s a just giving page link here:

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/cycleride24

The bike ride on August 24th travels from Alice’s home village in Old Dalby, Leicestershire, to Sheringham, Norfolk. If you live in the area, you can join in with the ride, or sponsor a rider. 50 people are so far signed up for the challenge.

The money raised will go to Hope Against Cancer which funds cancer research and supports a trials centre at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. The charity has funded over 100 research projects tackling many forms of cancer and opened the trials centre in 2012 to offer patients access to new medicines and therapies. It also funds two nurses who care for and support trials patients.

Alice’s mum Libby spoke about how they are supporting Alice

‘We are joining Alice in all fundraising activities, driving all our positivity and energy as much as possible

“Creating the Breast Cancer Garden at Belvoir Castle really helped Alice and us all with the realisation of the continuing fight. It was also an emotional creation as so close to the reality of our situation. We all really enjoyed designing, building and seeing people at the show enjoy all the elements of the garden.”

The show garden raised thousands of pounds for the NBCR.

Libby said Alice will have raised nearly £100,000 all together, after her bike ride challenge. In May 2023 she took part in the ‘Pretty Muddy Prestwold’ 5k run, in July created the Belvoir Castle garden, sold Christmas Trees and gifts at her home, Wad House Farm, and in May this year took part in the Pretty Muddy Prestwold 5k run again.

“We want to support Alice in every way possible. She is our world. Time is precious and it’s a huge juggle running a landscaping, design and building business, finding time to ensure we do family things as much as possible, taking short breaks to have time out, in between hospital and treatment appointments. But it’s all about being positive and taking a day at a time.”

I asked Libby how much is spending time in and on your own home garden helping? “Our family home and garden is a massive help for head space, from family barbecues or just tending the garden, mowing, pruning, planting, etc. We have also been helping Alice and her partner Danny renovate their cottage and garden in Old Dalby which they have now moved into and which gives them time and space, and we enjoy visiting and spending time in their cottage garden.

The link to donate or read more is here:

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/cycleride24

Alice is on instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/ifanyonecanalicecan?igsh=eXg4OTk4b3dtaWYx

Read more and learn about breast cancer and what to look out for, here:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer/types/triple-negative-breast-cancer

Alice’s family business:

https://davidgreavesdesign.co.uk/

Thank you for reading my blog. It’s always appreciated. Please leave a comment at the bottom of the page and keep in touch. Karen