It’s hard to believe that around this time, four years ago, life took a sudden sharp turn. A routine scan — one of those ordinary check-ups you try not to think twice about — had spotted something unusual: the lymph nodes around my bowel were enlarged. Before I knew it, I was being sent for a flurry of tests and biopsies, the kind of whirlwind you never expect to find yourself in until you’re right there, living it.
When the news landed that the cancer I’d fought off back in 2018 had decided to stage a comeback tour, it hit me in two ways at once. On the one hand, it was a gut-punch of shock. On the other, if I’m honest, there was a little voice in the back of my head saying, “Yeah… I had a feeling you might show up again.”
The options on the table weren’t exactly plentiful. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy weren’t going to touch it, and surgery to whip out the lymph nodes just wasn’t possible. That left me with one road forward: immunotherapy. It was the only shot at holding the line, fighting back, and — let’s be honest — giving me the best possible chance of sticking around long enough to keep annoying everyone for the foreseeable future.
Now, here comes the spoiler!
Against all the odds — and maybe even a few cautious expectations — the treatment did its job. Immunotherapy teamed up with my body and held the cancer at bay. Month after month, for two solid years, I turned up for my date with Pembrolizumab. And now, two more years since finishing that course, those troublesome lymph nodes are behaving themselves. No new surprises, no fresh outbreaks of chaos. Just stability. And in this game, stability is a win worth celebrating.
I’ve shared this journey plenty of times before, and I’m fairly certain there isn’t a queue forming outside my door begging for another retelling. So don’t worry — I won’t drag you through every old detail again.
What I will say is this: when my treatment began, we made a promise to ourselves. We weren’t going to let fear or uncertainty get the better of us. If cancer was going to show up uninvited, then we were going to flip the script — take something dark and turn it into something positive.
And that was how A Goldstitch Christmas was born.
Since October 2021, when my treatment first began, we’ve been channelling our energy into something that really matters to us: raising funds to support local causes during the festive season. We’re unapologetic Christmas fanatics — tinsel, fairy lights, cheesy music and even cheesier films, the lot — so it felt only right to spread that joy where it’s needed most. Over the past few years, that’s meant packing up Christmas hampers, filling the children’s ward at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske with toys, games, and books, gathering toiletries for St Petrocs to help tackle homelessness, and donating cash and shopping vouchers to the Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Clubs, as well as our local food bank, and donating various items into Children’s Hospice South West too.
We’ve been lucky enough to have incredible support from friends and family — always ready to chip in with money, items, or their time. And honestly, without them, none of this would have been possible. Add to that the generosity of local businesses, the kindness of complete strangers, and even a few legendary bands (more on that shortly), and A Goldstitch Christmas has grown into something truly special for us. Without all of that? Well, it would probably just sound like the title of a slightly cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie.
This year marks a big milestone: our fifth Christmas, and the fifth year since A Goldstitch Christmas first began. That feels huge for so many reasons. On one hand, it’s a celebration of the fundraiser itself — still going strong, still doing its best to sprinkle a little festive magic and Christmas spirit wherever it can. On the other, it’s personal. It’s a reminder that I’m still here, feeling fighting fit, with an immune system (and a little help from science) that continues to keep those nasty cancer cells firmly in their place.
To mark the occasion we felt that we needed to do something…big!
I’ve always been one for lofty ambitions, and it felt like as good a time as any to start aiming high again. I’ve always loved a live gig, and the idea of planning one myself — maybe even taking the first tentative steps onto a whole new career path — had been quietly buzzing around my head for a while. Sure, I didn’t have the experience, the contacts, or, let’s be honest, the working capital. But when has a little thing like that ever stopped me?
So, instead of overthinking it, I thought: why not just go for it? And that’s how the idea for the A Goldstitch Christmas Anniversary Shindig was born — a proper night of music, magic, and festive mischief. And here’s the best bit… we’re not talking about karaoke with a dodgy Bluetooth speaker. No, we’ve somehow managed to land a full live set from none other than The Hoosiers. Yes, those Hoosiers. The million-selling, indie-pop icons! A real band, with actual hits you’ll know, love, and probably sing along to at the top of your lungs.
We’ve been huge fans of The Hoosiers for a long time, and over the years they’ve been nothing short of brilliant. They’ve recorded videos to boost our socials, donated signed albums for us to auction, and generally been the kind of generous, down-to-earth people you always hope your favourite band will turn out to be. So, to have them coming all the way down to Cornwall to help us celebrate this special anniversary? Well, that’s the stuff of dreams. We honestly can’t wait to throw open the doors, crank up the music, and get the party started.
And here’s the best part: every penny of profit from ticket sales will go straight to the organisations we support. So it’s not just about an incredible night of live music and celebration — it’s about making a real difference. By showing up, singing along, and having a brilliant time, you’ll also be helping people in our community who could use a little extra support. That, to me, feels like the perfect combination of festive spirit and good old-fashioned fun.
Tickets are officially on sale now — you’ll find all the links just below — and we’d absolutely love to see as many friends, family, and familiar faces as possible joining us in February. There’s loads of room, so bring your singing voice, bring your dancing shoes, and let’s blow the roof off the Princess Pavilions together. It’s going to be one for the books!
While we’re busy dreaming up plans for our big Anniversary Shindig, we’re also keeping our eyes firmly on what really matters — the fundraising. Over the next few days, we’ll be sharing details on how you can get involved and help us spread a bit of festive magic to those who could use some extra support this Christmas.
It doesn’t have to be grand gestures — every little thing adds up. Whether it’s a few pounds in cash, a toy or game for a child, a selection box of chocolatey goodness, toiletries, or anything else you can spare — it all makes a huge difference. Together, we can help make this season that little bit brighter for people who might otherwise find it tough.
