‘Kindness is never wasted’
Debbie Bailey, from Grayshott, Surrey, was so bowled over by people’s kindness when she was ill that she set up Albi & Mac with her friend Nina Camping, to help bring joy to others.
Friendship may have saved my life. When a friend was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, she urged other women to check their breasts. I did it in the bath that night and was shocked to find a lump on my right breast. It was so small I convinced myself it was nothing, but I did go to the doctor. Within days I was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. Busy working in recruitment with two children, Jacob, who was nine, and Ava, then seven,
I was hit with shock and disbelief, and when my treatment started two weeks later, life changed dramatically.
Over a year of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy and a mastectomy, I lost all my hair, even my eyebrows. Barney, my husband, and I told the kids over tea one day and continued to be totally upfront with them, as that’s how they seemed to handle it best – they even came to some appointments with me. I’m a glass half-full person and tried to stay upbeat, even through the bleak days of chemo. I tried to keep all the plates spinning while making sure I looked after myself. The nurses commented how positive I was but, looking back, I felt I had an extra reason to keep going; the immense, genuine kindness of others.
Almost every day during treatment, friends would do something wonderful for me, making me feel cherished. From cooking a meal for the family to offering to walk our cockapoo, Albi, or booking me a yoga class. Their thoughtfulness gave me another weapon in my armoury to fight cancer. I felt wrapped in a cocoon of care and it showed me how powerful small acts of kindness could be.
Surviving any serious illness can be life-changing and after treatment
I looked for a different way to live. My recruitment job was full-on and, as I told my old university friend Nina Camping, it was time to do something different. She reminded me how much the kindness of others had meant, and suggested there may be a business in that. A few months later we started Albi & Mac, with Nina fitting it around her job as an art curator and her three children. It’s named after my dog, which I snuggled up to during my illness, and Mac, my friend Emma’s dog. She had died of oesophageal cancer and it was a lovely way to remember her.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
We each put £4,000 into the business, letting it grow slowly so we wouldn’t have the stress of owing money. After my cancer, I didn’t want any more sleepless nights.
Albi & Mac sells gifts and products that we hope will spread kindness and happiness, especially for those going through a tough time. Our cosy socks, candles and jewellery are packed with care and thoughtfulness. We encourage our customers to personalise their gifts. I know the difference that these kind and thoughtful touches can make.
Our jewellery is made by a designer we know. Our pouches are hand-sewn by a friend in Oxfordshire. Our candles are natural and free from chemicals; crucial, because if you’re going through chemotherapy, for example, your senses are likely to be extra sensitive.
At first we took our products to fairs but Covid put a stop to that and, since then, we’ve been building the business online, changing our branding and creating our own products. We know from repeat business and feedback that we are making a difference.
I’ve been clear of cancer for more than five years now but have check-ups each year. During treatment I had the feeling that everyone had my back. I really believe it helped. Just knowing they were thinking of me gave me strength. As the cards we send with every parcel say: ‘Kindness is never wasted’.
• Visit albiandmac.co.uk
Small acts of kindness can be powerful