I want to make dreams come true

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, this writer promised that if she survived she would make it her life’s mission to help others – now she is

months. It was on this day that I realised my health had been neglected and replaced by work.

It was a Friday when I was diagnosed with cancer, followed by the shard extraction, then on the Monday I was informed that my employer was making my team redundant. Oh, how the cookie crumbles! For me, I was so afraid of dying that this seemed less important – I mean, what good is a job when you’re dead?

On the day of my diagnosis, I stood looking out over the Irish Sea and I promised myself that if I made it through this, I would rebuild and relive my life differently. And I have.

During my cancer treatment I decided that I wanted to give back so I helped medical teams and charities – you may remember reading my story in the Pink issue of this magazine in 2016 and 2017. In 2015, I decided to take part in a trek to Machu Picchu to raise vital funds for cancer research. I completed the climb successfully and when I returned, I was asked to share this experience with other cancer survivors.

This is when I learned that other adults had dreams too, but due to financial restrictions they would remain unfulfilled. I still remember the shudder that went through my body when I heard a man called Mark describing his wish and then saying, ‘but I don’t have the money’. This deeply disturbed me – imagine being in that hopeless position when your life on earth is limited.

That evening in October 2015, a new mission came to me at my kitchen sink: to help terminally ill adults fulfil their last wish. I would call it Steph’s A.R.K (acts of random kindness) and it would be an initiative that would liaise with companies who could facilitate the wish or provide financial aid to allow the wish to be granted. I knew this was my life’s purpose. I started to research the initiative and at that time no other charity was delivering this mission. So I started on what I now know to be a very long road of creating Steph’s A.R.K.

I brought the initiative to an enterprise board, hoping to receive clear direction, guidance and potential funding. But unfortunately, they didn’t identify this initiative as an opportunity for investment. So I struggled onwards and upwards on my own. I paid for my own training in charity compliance. I paid for anything that Steph’s A.R.K would need – laptops, printers, stationery, insurance – all while living on a micro allowance. Then finally in October 2023, Steph’s A.R.K received its recognised charity number from the regulator. It was the best news.

Since being diagnosed with cancer I try to fill my life with good moments. Very often these moments encircle other people. I came off my cancer treatment to try for my baby girl and I had her safely. I project-led and completed the construction of my own home, so my family would be safe. I completed the process of a self-built camper conversion as this was my partner’s dream.

My intentions are always for the wellbeing of others. Now I am bringing this amazing mission to the people of Ireland and hopefully beyond. I truly believe that our beneficiaries and donors deserve this, a charity that reflects the people surrounding it – honest and extremely hard-working.

If you feel you would like to join Stephanie on this journey, see stephsark.ie or email her at info@stephsark.ie