we were enjoying a lunchtime plate of br potatoes, carrots, parsnips and beetroot, br all freshly dug from our allotment – br a shelter for wild birds, midges and crawly things - br listening to the one o’clock news br when the name Jane Tomlinson appeared br from the lips of the reporter br telling of her expected death br from breast cancer fought for 17 years br and of her immense bravery br br cycling across American soil br raising a million pounds for charity br leaving behind, today, a legacy br filled with her joy of helping the world br and then the reporter spoke out br on those suffering from cancer br who do not have the capacity br nor the strength, nor the energy br br to follow in her footsteps br and the girl jumped up and said br “all those people with cancer who mope br should get out there and have fun! ” br and I heard myself steaming, angry, br telling her she should experience cancer before br she accused those who were fighting the battle br against an enemy you cannot see br br we do not mope br we find goodness in everything we see br and we thank God for giving us Hope br and a second chancebr br Penny Hemansbr br