Linda Bullent isn’t going to let her cancer treatment regime interfere with her quest to raise money for cancer research.
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And after the community helped her raise $10,000 at her fun day last month, which took her fundraising efforts to $26,000, she’s more determined than ever to make an even bigger contribution.
The mother-of-three hopes to hold smaller fundraisers during the year to reach $30,000 while she continues a chemotherapy and radiotherapy regime and runs Raworth Tennis Centre and Morpeth Lodge Motel with her family.
Mrs Bullent is battling terminal cancer but her desire to make a difference while she can outweighs the constraints of her illness.
Recent scans, which showed chemotherapy has shrunk some of her cancer, has also boosted her spirits.
“A few of us were counting and we were very excited when we exceeded my $20,000 goal,” she said.
“It was very humbling, I look back on the day and I’m very grateful for the support from the people who came and those that donated prizes to make it a success.
“We’re so close to $30,000 that it’s made we want to get there now.
“My daughter even said to me we have to keep going.
“We couldn’t have done it without the amazing prizes that were donated and the people who came.”
Mrs Bullent completed the five kilometre Maitland parkrun on Christmas Eve and was able to run some of it. Now she wants to get back on her bike and build her fitness as much as possible.
“I know I’m not invincible, I’m taking it slowly and it was a good start for me,” she said.
Mrs Bullent hopes her resilience inspires her family and those around her to do as much as they can to make a difference in the world.
“Nobody expected this to happen to me, I didn’t expect it to happen to me.
“People have said it has made them think about their life and how they need to live life to the full.
“If that’s something I’ve achieved and people realise that they shouldn’t spend too much time worrying about things, then that’s a good outcome.
“I was only saying to my kids the other day, look at what we’ve done – it’s something I hope they will continue to do in their life time.”