In October 2019 I made my way up to Manchester for the Shine Great Escape. This free weekend, organised by the charity Shine Cancer Support, brings together young adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s who have been diagnosed with cancer. During the 3.5 days, there are various workshops that explore issues that affect young adults with cancer. It’s also an opportunity to have fun and meet people who just “get it.”
The below video does a great job of showing exactly what the weekend is all about (see if you can spot me!) If you're thinking about going on the next Shine Great Escape, or are curious to know what it's all about, keep reading for my experience and why I found it so valuable.
My experience on the Shine Great Escape
After a 2 hour drive from Birmingham, I arrived at the hotel in Manchester on Thursday afternoon. I checked in with the Shine team at reception and everyone seemed really chatty and friendly, so I immediately felt at ease. After dropping my bags off in my room, I was introduced to my peer supporter and peer group. We had the opportunity to chat for a while before everyone headed into a room where Emma and Ceinwen (the founding directors of Shine) introduced themselves and we started to get to know each other.
In total there were over 20 of us attending the escape. Everyone seemed so different, but the more we talked the more I realised how much we also had in common. Although we had been through different experiences, it struck me how there were some things we could all relate to.
Over the next few days, I attended workshops on topics such as managing anxiety, relationships, and working after cancer. I can honestly say every single session I attended was invaluable. My brain was buzzing with information by the end of it. I even started saving snippets of advice in my phone so I wouldn't forget things!
Each session was around 45 minutes long (sometimes shorter) and there was plenty of breaks built-in. There was also no pressure to do anything you didn’t want to do, and you could take a break or go for a nap in your room whenever you needed to.
When I told friends and family I was going on a "cancer retreat," some assumed it would be a very sad and sombre occasion. Although the sessions covered some serious and sometimes painful topics, we generally maintained a light-hearted feel throughout.
Before coming on the escape I wasn't sure how I'd feel sharing personal information about my life to a group of strangers. However, it didn't take long before I felt completely comfortable. It felt good to know I could speak openly and honestly without fear of being judged.
What did I enjoy most about the Escape?
When I think back on my highlights from the Escape, there are a few moments that spring to mind.
On our first evening, we were given an icebreaker task to complete during dinner. Each table had to create a sculpture using pipe-cleaners, tin foil, and other random materials. The winning team's Gwyneth Paltrow-inspired creation was brilliant! My team won the prize for “Best effort” (which I'm trying to tell myself wasn't just another way of saying "Congratulations, you came last!")
When they bought in the therapy dogs on the Saturday afternoon I had the biggest smile on my face! Then, on Saturday evening, we went into Manchester city centre for a meal before some of us headed on to karaoke. If you watched the video I shared above, you'll have seen I was really getting into it! Karaoke is something I used to enjoy doing before I was diagnosed (even though I'm a terrible singer!) It felt so good to be doing it again.
In fact, this weekend really reminded me that cancer hasn't changed me completely. I used to think of myself as a *fun* person, before chemo and hospital appointments took over my life. The Escape reminded me that I am still that person. I laughed and smiled more in those 3.5 days than I had all year!
During the final day of the Escape, we headed to Quarry Bank, a beautiful National Trust property around a 20-minute drive from the hotel. This was the location for our fundraising walk. It was very muddy, but luckily the rain held off. In total we raised almost £2,500, which will help fund places for the next Great Escape.
Would I recommend the Shine Great Escape?
Absolutely. The advice and information I received has been so helpful, and the memories I made will stay with me forever. I hadn't been coping very well since finishing treatment, but the Escape helped me realise everything I'd been feeling was normal. That I wasn't alone.
>> If you're interested in finding out more, click here to apply for the next Shine Great Escape <<
Shine also runs local networks across the country where young adults can meet up for relaxed, social get-togethers (dinner, drinks, bowling etc). There's also a Facebook group where you can find advice and support.
Thank you so much for reading. Hopefully, I've been able to capture what the Shine Great Escape is all about! If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch by Twitter or Instagram.
Oh, this sounds like such a great thing to have access to. Well done to Shine! I can only imagine how much it would help to be with others who are understanding of what you've been going through on a similar level, and to be able to talk through stuff properly.
Oh definitely, Shine are such an amazing charity. They've helped me so much and I'll always be grateful to them! I'd never heard of them before this year so I'm trying to do what I can to raise awareness of them ❤️