Sally Smart

24/07/2026

This is Joanne, one of our Breast Friend Calendar Girls. Please take a moment to read her incredible story......
My world changed in October 2023 sitting in the consultant’s room being told you have Breast Cancer. After he said the words breast cancer, I heard nothing else from the consultant. White envelopes start coming through your letter box from the hospital for appointments. I had barely got my head around having cancer; and then being asked to make decisions about your treatments.
To quote a book I found by Dr Frances Goodhart and Lucy Atkins, they called it a Storm of Cancer and that is how I felt. Your boat (life) is going great and then bang you hit a storm (cancer), and you are trying to get to shore, but your maps, your sense of direction is lost (decision making) and you are being pushed further out to sea. The lifeboat arrives (your breast surgical team) trying to come along side you to rescue you, attaching ropes and steering you to shore (operation). Just when you think you are near light on the shore, another storm picks up (my radiotherapy) and in some ways that is even harder. Thanks to my lovely nurses in the radiotherapy unit, they got me through it. What is weird is you are having treatment but feeling worse each week.
Eventually the storm calms and you see your family and friends on the shore cheering and waiting for you, you think you can now steer the boat by yourself (treatment over) but all feels different, the boat is damaged and needs time to repair (my recovery) my family and friends are so relieved to have me back. But you don’t feel the same, the shore is different and you are constantly looking and listening for the weather forecast to see if the storm will start again.
I feel this is me; it was not so much the cancer and during the six months of treatment. It was after. The emotional trauma of coming to terms of what had happened to me both emotional and physically. After treatment and you leave hospital, the recovery starts, friends and family are great but it’s hard to describe what it was like. I then found out about Moving Forward and this was the start of my recovery; they were wonderful and Breast Care Now really understood and answers questions for me. This led to the Red Breast; women who had been there and totally understood what it was like.
I heard from then about how they had done a calendar in 2024 and felt so empowered. So, it was now time for me to give something back, to the hospital that saved my life and doing the calendar feels so right and I know will take me out of my comfort zone but also raises money to help people going through cancer.
I feel blessed I have come through my cancer journey it’s been hard, but also made me realise life is for enjoyment, so I retired and now enjoying lots of new experiences of life, all thanks to family, friends and the support I had during Breast Cancer. Thank you
https://www.justgiving.com/page/calendar2027
If you can purchase a date in the calendar or be a sponsor, please get in touch.

20/07/2026

Please read Theresa's Story, she is part of the new Breast Friend calendar raising funds for the Cancer Unit .........

Hi, I'm Theresa and back in July 2018 I was diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer after finding a lump whilst checking myself in the shower. I was 48 - younger than the age where we are offered routine mammograms.

As it was an aggressive cancer I went straight into a course of six chemotherapy sessions to hopefully stop its journey through my body. Then I had a lumpectomy and 20 rounds of radiotherapy. The diagnosis and treatment were gruelling physically, mentally and emotionally. However, due to the treatment I was lucky enough to receive I am still here all these years later.

Back in 2023 I was told about the fundraising Breast Friends Calendar 2024... Sally Smart (now Roberts) was a breast cancer survivor and fabulous photographer -.and the leader of the calendar. The idea of posing for photos for the calendar (clad only in whatever props we had to cover up 'certain parts') absolutely petrified me - totally out of my comfort zone. But I thought about what I had taken on with the treatment.... if I could do that then of course I could have some photos taken in order to help raise money for the North Wales Cancer Unit - it saved my life. Plain and simple.

Taking part in the calendar affected me in ways I never thought it would - it felt empowering and helped give me a body confidence I had never had in my life. All of us women taking part became a very special supportive group of friends, creating a wonderful bond between us.

Fast forward a few years and once more I've been asked if I want to take part in the 2027 calendar. This time, there was no hesitation -.of course I want to! Last time we raised over £34,000 - and we want to exceed that amount this year.

Going through all of this has proven to me that we have to make the most of every day, don't put off those plans of things you want to do - do them now! Every day is a blessing and I'm doing my best to enjoy every single one!

https://www.justgiving.com/page/calendar2027?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL

11/07/2026

During my cancer journey I received all my wigs from Rebecca at Morgan’s in Prestatyn. So I was honoured when I was asked to take part in a BBC documentary about her.

Losing my hair was more painful than losing my breast. That isn’t vanity! My breast was bad and trying to kill me so I no longer wanted it, whereas my hair was my identity, my mask and my femininity. Breast cancer robbed me of all my femininity, my breast, hair, eye brows and lashes, my toe and finger nails and my skin to name but a few.
It’s a great documentary if you fancy watching it.

Thankfully it mentions all my “breast friends” from our calendar too. I think I need a facelift having watched it lol

Rebecca Morgan-Brennan is a hair loss specialist in Prestatyn. At her salon by the sea, she helps people who have lost their hair to cancer or alopecia find themselves again.

26/06/2026

This looks fantastic! So pleased that us Breast Friends are to benefit too- feeling very humble but sad not to be able to make it. Looks incredible 🤩🤩🤩🤩

Well it’s been a year since the last one and we’d love to raise some money for a great cause…
So we’re happy to announce we’re heading back to the Octagon this summer for a special Over 30s Daytime Clubbing reunion!
Packed with memories, nostalgia, and great people — friends new and old — this is your chance to boogie on the dancefloor to 90s, 00s RnB, Club & Party Anthems with Richi Rich, Lee Openshaw & Crazy John.
All proceeds from ticket sales will go to Cancer Research UK and Breast Friends.
📅 Sunday 30th August 2026
🕒 3PM till 8PM
📍 Trilogy Nightclub, Bangor
VIP booths available (including bottle & mixers packages)
Ticket link in the comments ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Let’s make this one unforgettable — for the music, the vibes, and a great cause! ❤️
F@ Cancer!

22/06/2026

If you are in Prestatyn tomorrow from 1pm until 11pm pop into The Raven - support the North Wales Cancer Appeal and our calendar. There is lots happening with live music all day too. North Wales Cancer Appeal

We have this amazing event tomorrow at The Raven Bar North Wales Cancer Appeal Helen Wright
With lots of live music through the day, cocktail deals, charity raffle and lots of other fantastic fundraising activities
All goes right back to support local people and families affected by cancer!
Let's fill the Raven with a sea of pink!
fans

20/05/2026

Have you checked your b***s recently? It's now a full 2 years since my breast cancer returned. It returned in style and was travelling fast - into my skin, my muscle and 15 lymph nodes - very scary stuff. The North Wales Cancer Centre treated my swiftly and with love and care. They kept me alive once again, 2 years after tackling my pesky cancer the first time. My love for the unit is unwavering, the staff are literally phenomenal, my surgical team, the breast care nurses, the chemo ward staff and my incredible oncologist. I'm stronger each day and that is why I am putting so much effort into raising much needed funds for the unit.

One in 2 of us will get cancer. I think we all know someone affected by cancer who may have been treated at the unit. One in 7 ladies will get breast cancer, please check your b***s and find out what is normal for you.

I am wing walking in August to raise money and I am making another calendar. I run two support groups at The Red in Dyserth, one for breast cancer and one for any cancer.

I am looking for sponsorship for my calendar dates at £10 per date, or for businesses wishing to support the Cancer Unit.

Drop me a message if you can support my journey or wish to join us for support.

15/05/2026

There is still time for your business to sponsor our calendar for only £100 or to buy a date for only £10 with all funds going to the North Wales Cancer Appeal for the Cancer Unit.

27/04/2026

***They are back! Calendar dates are now available***

The dates in our upcoming calendar are now for sale. Last time we were inundated with requests and sold almost all of them. You can support the North Wales Cancer Appeal by buying a date for £10 to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, commemorate ringing the bell after treatment or honouring someone who was diagnosed with any type of cancer, or was lost to it. I can make the cancer ribbon in any colour.

The North Wales Cancer appeal are a small volunteer based charity who only provide funds for the North Wales Cancer Centre, who keep saving my life and thousands of others locally.

So, please get in touch with dates you wish to purchase and I will let you know if they are available. Please bare with me whilst I get back to you on a first come first served basis.

Thank you ###x

18/04/2026

I’m back to do what I love! Photograph incredible ladies who have fought breast cancer, raise awareness of breast cancer and raise money for the North Wales Cancer Unit which saved my life twice in the last few years. So, I’m making a new calendar and looking for sponsorship from businesses. All money raised will go to the North Wales Cancer Appeal, a small volunteer run charity which only raises money for the cancer unit. If you wish to sponsor us, please get in touch.

13/04/2026

These amazing sponsorship deals are available to support the Cancer Unit and all those affected by cancer. Please message if you wish to advertise in next year's calendar.