EDITOR’S NOTE
Meet Jane, Cassandra, Yemi and Alex. Later in the magazine you’ll get to see a lot more of these four women but, for now, let me just say thank you. Thank you for being brave enough to take off your clothes for a very special Good Housekeeping photoshoot. Thank you for telling your moving stories. And thank you for being inspirational to others and, it turns out, to me too. Each of these women has struggled with ill health, frustration or lack of self-esteem. But they have persevered and this month they appear – magnificently – in your magazine. When I met them at the photoshoot, I was moved to hear how they now celebrate their appearance, whatever their perceived imperfections. Their message emerges repeatedly… love and thank your body for everything that it does for you.
A while back I had my own struggle. Breast cancer, surgery, chemo, radiotherapy, depression and recovery took up much of a full two years. Afterwards I felt let down by my body, like I’d had my youth snatched away. The future looked very gloomy indeed and never did I imagine that six years on I would be happier, healthier, fitter and doing a job that I loved. But life is never perfect and still I fretted about the extra wrinkles and creeping weight. I forgot about the fight my body had so gallantly fought. After all it had done for me, I took it for granted. And then I met Jane, Cassandra, Yemi and Alex and ended up taking off my clothes and joining them in the photography studio.
Okay, so I am not as brave as they are. A well-positioned chair is a beautiful thing – as is a sympathetic and talented photographer! But since the shoot, I have been kinder to myself. I appreciate the body I have, for all its flaws. Do read their stories – and see their amazing pictures – on page 29.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
On 12 May the Good Housekeeping team will be walking through the night, in our bras, for Walk the Walk’s London Moonwalk event. I’m so proud that GH sponsors this wonderful charity and proud, too, of the part we have played in helping it raise £121m for vital research into breast cancer. This year our star team member will be GH writer Ella Dove, walking with her colleagues and family after losing her leg in a running accident. As a veteran of the event I know how tough even the Half Moon marathon is to complete, and I couldn’t be more in awe of our Ella. Nothing stops this young lady and I just know that she’ll be way ahead of the rest of us, encouraging us on. The theme this year is the Wild West, so we’ll be decorating our bras and donning our Stetsons. It’s not too late to enter the full or half marathon, to volunteer on the night or to sponsor a friend. Find out more at walkthewalk.org. Yee ha!
Until next month (when I promise you I will be fully dressed),