This page could go on and on and on as there are so many wonderful people to thank, not just for helping me make this auction a success, but for being there for me through every step of this treacherous cancer journey. Cancer has been an ill wind - it's all the things people tell you - draining, stressful, scary and soul destroying but it's an illness that also brings out the best in people . I have had the most incredible kindnesses bestowed upon me. People have donated fantastic prizes to my auction and friends and family have been there for me day and night.
Where shall I start? Well, I wouldn't be here writing this and feeling good if it wasn't for the expertise and kindness of my oncologist, Professor Hochhauser at UCH. Quite simply he is an Angel as is my wonderful cancer nurse, Jacquie Peck - they believed in me from the start when things looked very bleak and they still do. It is to them that I owe my life - how can I really say thank you? Also, much gratitude to the adorable Mr Windsor, my surgeon, - not only is he the best but a really lovely guy. In fact, thanks to all the GI Oncology team and Mr Mould and to my delightful Sosie Kasaab at the Royal Homeopathic - you are all fantastic. I'd also like to thank gorgeous Sylvia - my first chemo nurse - another Angel - and Caroline and all the chemo nurses - Angels, all of them - I don't know how they do it.
Sadly, a posthumous thank you to Panos Christodoulou, my oncology dietitian, who tragically lost a short battle with cancer last year. You will read more about Panos very soon as I am dedicating a page to him, and indeed, this event is being done in his memory. I know he would have been proud of me - he always was.
Thanks to all the staff at Chai Cancer Care - especially Lisa and Yara - for being so kind and loving. What a wonderful and supportive organisation. I also value the support of my GP, Dr Tim Gerrard, even if he does laugh at me for naming my Mini... Miranda! Much appreciation to Trevor Sorbie and Lidija Najev for giving me a head of hair to be proud of, after my own fell out, and for being so nice!
And now a huge thanks to everyone who has helped me with my auction - my lovely parents,- Myrna and Michael along with my third parent - Diana, my step mum, for always being so bright , positive and supportive and to all of them for giving me some great leads to some amazing prizes. Thanks to my darling friend, Anna, for being a friend in a million and for coming up with the idea for this auction and helping me to plan it down to the finest detail. To my gorgeous friend, Rebecca, for teaching me how to write, being a fantastic friend and for, along with her lovely colleagues at Time Out, the delightful Mark Frith and Tim Arthur, supporting this auction in the most committed way you could ever imagine. Mega appreciation to Patrick for standing by me so loyally, endlessly believing in my spirit to fight and listening so intently to all my stories from auctions to cancer to cats - well the last one...not so much! Thanks also to Dave Webster, my dear friend and former colleague, for clearing up a few IT problems for me!
I would like to thank the following people for sourcing or donating prizes - Professor Winslet, Sacha Baron Cohen, Gerry and Daniella Baron Cohen, Rhonda George, Maureen Lobatto, Christian Steel, Matt Lucas, Allon Reich, Diana Reich, Twentieth Century Fox Studios, Anthony Wagerman, Daniel Barbanel, Jan Jenkins, Hilary and Pauline Graham, Romilly Graham, Ursula Bodzek - Belle De Jour Beauty Salon, Derick Bass - Dental Surgery, Rachel De Thame, Christine Boar - Deelishus, Will Monk - Knight Frank, Jim Drew, Shirley Hughes, Clara Vulliamy, Freya North, The Faber Society, Frances Baruch, Gail Levy from Primrose Hills Pets, PJ's Hairdressing Salon, Leanne Klein - Wall to Wall Productions, Gill Klein, Ruth and Douglas Jessop, Nicolas - wine specialists Primrose Hill, Josie and Peter Wagerman, Reece Shearsmith, Stanley Volk, Eirinn at Elemis, the lovely ladies in Kate Kuba, Lionel at Richard Dare, Michael Owen at Selfridges, Maureen and Toni at Marks and Spencers, Waitrose,John and Katie Plews at Upstairs at The Gatehouse. A huge thanks to Ian. D. Solkin and Amber De Savary at The Old Swan & Minster Mill for donating a break at his amazing hotel. Thanks to Irene Bard for the loan of her beautiful seaside house. Thank you also to Ivan Scheer -, Pforum, for donating the invitations - great job - and to Daniel Carmel-Brown and Hannah Persaud for your very helpful advice.
Thanks to Andy Quinn at Foyles for donating the beautiful Foyles gallery for free and generally being an exceptionally helpful and nice guy!
A much deserved thanks to Brad Shaw for his excellent MCing - you did a brilliant job Brad - everyone was so impressed.
An enormous thank you to Dr Sue Dicke for running the Brighton Marathon for me - so far we've raised over £1,400 - what a star you are Sue!
And, last but definitely not least - a gigantic thank you to my friends and family. What would I do without you? Again, my parents and step mum, Anna and Rebecca, Jan Jenkins, David and Adele Barbanel and all the Barbanel clan! Josie and Peter Wagerman, Danielle and Anthony Wagerman, Katie and Ariel. And ,all my friends but especially Patrick, Ruth Corney, Ruth Cohen, Julie, Phil, Christine and Lynne, Joy, Anne Leck and all at The Methodist Church. You have all helped to keep me smiling through the adversity and given me oodles of love and, for that, no amount of thanks is adequate.
