THE SUNSHINE SIX

Last year we came in contact with an absolute ray of sunshine. Rachel Allen (affectionately known as Bambi) is a positive thinker and a courageous spirit – she’s also a chemo patient. After being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Primary Mediastinal Lymphoma, she began her blog the Sunshine Six and we jumped at the opportunity to get involved.

Read about her project below!

 

Tell us a little about your project, The Sunshine Six.

The Sunshine Six is my way of bringing a little happiness into my cancer journey. I started the project to coincide with my six chemotherapy treatments that I’ve been undertaking since February last year. My aim for the Sunshine Six is to wear outfits at the start of each of my chemo cycles that have the essence of being happy and full of sunshine. To bring positivity and brightness to a place where I’d rather not be.

At a time where my whole world was rapidly changing I wanted to create something that would still make me feel like me – someone with a love of all things pretty and everything floral – and to fill me with strength. In a way it's actually made me look forward to going to chemo because I know I get to wear something special.

 

What gave you the idea to start your blog?

Originally I started my blog as a way to update everyone about my progress. With lots of family and friends scattered around Australia and the UK, I found it was the easiest way to keep in touch. I think they were just as scared and shocked as I was, so it gave them comfort in being able to read what I was up to and see photos of my progress.

My blog also became my digital diary, where I could write about my latest cycle of chemo or anything I’d been up to. I found it was quite therapeutic and fun sharing my experiences. I didn’t want to go through this journey and look back on this time as one big blur – I wanted remember the incredible highs, the difficult lows and everything in between.

How have you found the response so far?

The response from my blog and the Sunshine Six has been absolutely incredible.The amount of overwhelming support from those nearest and dearest to me, those far away and the love and kindness from beautiful companies like Auguste has truly touched me. Ultimately I would love to continue the Sunshine Six project after my treatment and give other young people their own Sunshine Session – hopefully making their journey a little brighter too.

A beautiful and surprising aspect that has happened since starting my blog is young women from across the world, who have lymphoma as well, reaching out and contacting me. It's humbling knowing that they have connected to my story, and it’s wonderful talking to someone with similar life experiences.

Through this experience I’ve learnt that we are truly not alone in this fight, in every struggle and in every triumph.