World Book Day 2018

Today is World Book Day 2018, and if there is one book you might consider buying then please take a look at the Lives & Times fundraising book supporting Beating Bowel Cancer / Bowel Cancer UK. Over the course of 18 months I met and photographed people from all walks of life to form the chapters of Lives & Times. Every single person taking part has given up their own time to do it and all funds raised go to Beating Bowel Cancer. Inside the book there are over 100 photographs and over 40,000 words. Since publication the book, along with STOP Bowel Cancer T-Shirts, and a limited edition screen print by artist Adam Green, has raised over £3750.

I began the book in 2014 two years after my mother had been diagnosed with bowel cancer. She was in fact in remission as I started it. but unfortunately the the cancer came back. Lives & Times was published in November 2015. Sadly my Mum lost her battle with cancer on August 29th, 2016 after a four year battle with this awful disease.

Mum

The book features chapters on Katherine Grainger, Sir Steve Redgrave, Gabby Logan, Jonathan Agnew, Nadine Dorries, Lorraine Kelly, Christopher Biggins, Ben Richards, Matthew Wright, Freya North, Gail Porter, Alan Davies, Shaun Keaveny, Mike Read, Status Quo, The Alarm, The Stranglers, Horace Panter, Clare Grogan and many others.

The Lives & Times can be bought in three different formats. Here is the breakdown on how you can order your copy. 

Hardback Edition

• Bowel Cancer Fundraising Website. This is the website I have set up. The book costs £23.99 of which the £7 I receive will be donated to Beating Bowel Cancer. Only available to UK customers.
• Amazon. The book costs £29.99 of which the approx £4.00 I receive will be donated to Beating Bowel Cancer.

Paperback Edition

• Bowel Cancer Fundraising Website. My website. The book costs £7.99 of which the £2.75 I receive will be donated to Beating Bowel Cancer. Only available to UK customers.
• Amazon. The book costs £8.99 of which the approx £1.00 I receive will be donated to Beating Bowel Cancer.

Ebook Edition

• Amazon. The digital edition for the kindle is only available on Amazon at the moment. There are free kindle apps that can run on your iPad and laptop. The book costs £2.49 of which the approx £1.00 I receive will be donated to Beating Bowel Cancer.

Worldwide (outside the UK)

• Amazon. Search "Lives & Times Tim Darvell" and you won't go too far wrong. 
• Book Depository. Offers free shipping to anywhere in the world so is a brilliant way for buyers living outside the UK to buy the book.

Finally I am quite happy to sell physical copies of the hardback and paperback editions directly bypassing the websites. Please contact me on email me at timdarv@googlemail.com to arrange it.

I have been supporting Beating Bowel Cancer since 2012, and information about the charity and the work that is does can be found by clicking here.

The Much Missed Billy Franks Features In The Lives & Times Bowel Cancer Charity Book

Billy Franks at The Union Chapel

2016 was a year when so many well know faces were taken from us. For me it was particularly sad when we lost the wonderful Billy Franks. Billy was a lovely man, a hugely underestimated songwriter and musician. I saw Billy's band The Faith Brothers support The Alarm back in the 1980s and they were without doubt the best support band I ever saw. Much more than that they became one of my favourite bands and it was always a mystery how commercial chart success just eluded them. I became reacquainted with Billy's music through the joys of social media and the internet. Over the course of 15 years or so I got to know him through his wonderful live gigs and solo albums. He always had time for his small, but loyal band of fans. Billy would always have a hug for you, and he knew everyone at his gigs by their first names. 

The news of Billy's passing came during the week in 2016 that we had my Mum's funeral after she lost her 4 year battle with bowel cancer, so hearing the news about Billy was another terrible blow. Billy had not long completed the Camino Frances 780km from France across the Pyrenees into Spain. When I donated to his crowdfunding appeal for the walk he returned my donation. Knowing at that time how poorly my Mum was, he said that there were more important things in life. It was a measure of the man, and something that I will never forget. 

Billy's daughter Alison with her copy of Lives & Times

For some chapters in the Lives & Times bowel cancer fundraising book I was able to combine business (not that I considered the book as work) with pleasure. One such chapter was photographing Billy at The Union Chapel in London. He was a keen a supporter of my fundraising efforts, and more than happy to meet up to be photographed for the book. The original idea we came up with for the book photo was to photograph Billy in Fulham, doing a now and then type idea with present day Billy versus Billy from the 1980s. However when the concert at The Union Chapel was announced it was too good an opportunity to miss. For the first time in his career Billy played an acoustic show back by a gospel choir. To see his songs performed in such a way was truly magical, and The Gospel Touch Choir were magnificent. It made for a wonderful chapter in the book, and all proceeds I receive are donated to Bowel Cancer UK / Beating Bowel Cancer, the UK's leading bowel cancer charity.

Not long before he died, Billy released, A Far Cry From Sunset, which is a wonderful collection of beautifully crafted songs. The music lives on, and Billy will never be forgotten.

Portrait Photography Sessions Raising Funds For Bowel Cancer

Deborah James

The idea behind offering portrait photograph sessions is to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK / Beating Bowel Cancer, the UK's leading bowel cancer charity. My Mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012, and this very soon became stage 4 when it spread to her left lung. Over the course of four and half years she had five major operations, and also CyberKnife treatment when the cancer spread to her brain. She passed away on August 29th 2016.

In May 2017 I met and photographed Deborah James for my forthcoming fundraising book,The Record. She was a truly inspirational woman, who had a very aggressive form of bowel cancer, and yet was so positive and full of laughter. Sadly Debs passed away on July 27th, but I think that the opportunity to photograph Debs, and others, probably planted the seed of the idea in my mind.

Much more needs to be done, both in terms of fundraising and raising awareness, to try and bring down the numbers of people that bowel cancer is taking. 41,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK, and 16,000 people are lost to bowel cancer each year. It is the second highest cancer killer, and yet if detected early it can be successfully treated in over 90% of cases. Less than 10% of patients detected at an advanced stage (stage 4) survive for more than five years.

With Spring fast approaching now is the perfect time to think about having some photos done. For the photo sessions I am offering two options. The standard portrait session will cost £25. I will travel to you, and take your family photos (pets included) in an outdoor setting. Included in the cost will be a link to the photos, which you will then be able to download, edit and print off to your own requirements.

The deluxe family photography session will cost £35. I will travel to you, and take your family photos (pets included) in an outdoor setting. I will edit the photos to your satisfaction. You will be able to choose two photos 8"x10" (or smaller if you wish) which will then be printed off and sent to you. Also included in the cost will be a link to the photos, which you will then be able to download, edit and print off to your own requirements.

I live in Berkshire, so any local setting is good. However I am happy to travel pretty much anywhere to take the photos, although long distance trips will have to be arranged at a mutually convenient time, and location to make them viable. All proceeds raised will be donated to the Beating Bowel Cancer charity.

Since I launched this idea about 6 months ago, I have done a wedding, a 50th birthday, and a number of one on one photo sessions. All of these have contributed to my fundraising total, which taking into account everything that is available to buy on my website, now stands at £3750.

For more information please use the contact form, or you can buy a session from bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk.

Heavy Metal Legends Saxon Photographed in Cardiff

Saxon

Cardiff University was the location for the latest photo for The Record, my forthcoming bowel cancer fundraising book. Biff Byford, lead singer with the legendary heavy metal band, Saxon, had kindly agreed to take part in book. I got to meet him just after the band's soundcheck, and instead of doing a photo there and then, Biff suggested I did the photo of the band during their set, so he organised me with a photo pass. What an experience it was being able capture the band in action. Biff was lovely, happy to chat and answer my questions, even though it was a very busy evening for the band.

Waiting by the side of the stage before entering the photo pit

The band have just released a new album, Thunderbolt, which made the top 30 in the UK album chart on its first week of release. Biff told the crowd, that this was the first time the band had been back in the top 30 album charts since 1984!

Set List

The gig was brilliant, and the band played a great career spanning set. Songs old and new alike went down very well with the very enthusiastic audience. This was the first night of the bands 2018 world tour, and although they were only playing three shows in the UK before heading to Europe and America, they will be back in the autumn for part 2. And 2019 is a big year for the band, as they will be celebrating their 40th anniversary. I first got into Saxon when '747 Strangers In The Night' was a hit in 1980. Having a big brother, who was (still is to be fair) into his rock music, it probably was no surprise that some of it rubbed off on me.

Biff!

So this will make another great chapter for the book. As soon as I messaged Biff, and explained that I was doing a fundraising book in memory of my Mum who passed away from bowel cancer in 2016, he immediately agreed to be involved. All proceeds raised from sales of the forthcoming book will be donated to Beating Bowel Cancer / Bowel Cancer UK, the UK's leading bowel cancer charity. Bowel cancer remains the 2nd highest cancer killer in the UK, claiming 16,000 lives each year. Yet if detected early it can be successfully treated in over 90% of cases. Much more needs to be done in raising awareness, and improving early diagnosis rates.

Meeting Gabby Logan For The Lives & Times Bowel Cancer Fundraising Book

It required a little bit of patience in my quest to meet Gabby Logan for the Lives & Times bowel cancer charity book. I'd initially made contact with Gabby on Twitter, and she immediately agreed to be in the book. After months of near misses, cancellations, and me nagging her agent, we finally did the photograph for the book, in Reading of all places, being where I live. Gabby was at an event there supporting the Great British Tennis Weekend in 2015. We met towards the end of her stint, so time was against me, but she kindly chatted for a few minutes, and happily posed for photos including this one with the bowel cancer tie. The chapter includes the near miss story of going to do this photo at the BBC Match of the Day studios in Manchester. Gabby was absolutely lovely, and I really appreciate her support for the book.

My mother sadly passed away in 2016 from bowel cancer, having first being diagnosed in 2012. Four years, and five major operations - it was only when the cancer spread to her brain that her health declined. She died peacefully with me, my brother and sister at her bedside. My fundraising has continued, if anything with even greater passion and drive, and now dedicated to the memory of our wonderfully brave and courageous mum. Please support this fundraising book, which is available on my website, as every sale counts both in raising money and raising awareness about bowel cancer. All proceeds raised from sales are donated to the Beating Bowel Cancer / Bowel Cancer UK, who have recently merged to become the UK's leading bowel cancer charity. Over £3750 has been raised so far.

Over the course of 18 months I met and photographed people from all walks of life to form the chapters of Lives & Times. Every single person taking part has given up their own time to do it and all funds raised go to the Beating Bowel Cancer charity. As well as Gabby, others included are, Sir Steve Redgrave, Katherine Grainger, Jonathan Agnew, Nadine Dorries, Lorraine Kelly, Christopher Biggins, Matthew Wright, Freya North, Gail Porter, Alan Davies, Shaun Keaveny, Carrie Grant, Mike Read, Status Quo, The Stranglers, The Alarm, Clare Grogan and many others.

The Record - A Bowel Cancer Charity Book

Mum

My third charity book will be called The Record, and 2017 was a very busy and productive year, which saw me go past the half-way stage in the new book's creation, and opens up the possibility of having the book published towards the end of 2018, although if it has to go back into 2019 I will not be too worried. The important thing is to get it as good as possible, and not to rush it.

The Record will feature patients, and their families affected by bowel cancer. I met Gina Shergold who lost her husband Steve to bowel cancer aged just 33, Steve Clark who is approaching the five year mark with stage 4 bowel cancer, Lauren Backler who lost her mum to bowel cancer, and who is tirelessly campaigning to get the screening age reduced to 50 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. I also met 'Bowel Babe' Deborah James, a stage 4 cancer patient who is like a tornado in her life with advanced bowel cancer, raising awareness, and huge amounts of money. Then there was another Deborah James, who I had got to know over a couple of years on social media, and we finally met up in May. Sadly she passed away in July aged just 37 years old, and she left a lasting impression on me and many others. I also had the very sad news just after Christmas that Norma de Bidaph, who featured in Lives & Times, had passed away after a long battle with bowel cancer.

Being Taught Selfies by Deborah James 

Sport has played a big part in the book too, meeting with ex-professional footballers Kevin Sheedy and Eddie Gray. Kevin is a bowel cancer survivor. I've so far met 5 Olympic gold medallists: Anne Dickins, Jeanette Chippington, Carl Hester, Christine Ohuruogu and Zac Purchase. 

I've already met with a very eclectic list of musicians: Frank Turner, John Coghlan, Steve Hackett, Steve Barnard, James Stevenson, Amy Macdonald, New Model Army, Skinny Lister, Hazel O'Connor, The Levellers, and Billy Ocean. Plenty more planned so watch this space.

I kept up the tradition of cricket related people I began in the last book, Lives & Times. I met with journalist George Dobell in Birmingham, and commentators Daniel Norcross and Natalie Germanos. I am still hoping to meet Ebony Rainford-Brent and Mike Selvey. 

The world of television, media and entertainment has been very fruitful with meetings with Victoria Derbyshire, Nicola Bryant, Bill Turnbull, Sean Fletcher, David Baddiel, Janet Ellis, and Colin Murray. I spent a brilliant day in South Yorkshire where I met writer and broadcaster Andrew White, followed by the brilliant poet Ian McMillan. There was also a trip to Glasgow to meet Laura Boyd from STV - Laura who has been living with leukaemia since 2009. 2017 ended with a wonderful meeting with Basil Brush in pantomime at Windsor.

Boom Boom!

So now as 2018 continues there is little let up. I have a big list of people I am hoping to meet up with including, Kim Wilde, Michelle Collins, Susan George, Dan Walker, Daf Wyn-Farr Jones, Frazer Hines, Steve Norman, Jona Lewie, Jay Aston, Jules Peters, Adam Green, Kirsty Duffy, Terry Christian, Ed Bazelgette, Stacey Heale, Sian Lloyd, Matt Allwright, Richard & Sarah Haugh, Mark Flannigan, Mari Isdale, Jacquie Beltrao, Omid Djalili, Noel Darvell, Gareth Jones, Freya North, Gail Porter, Elizabeth Alker, David Grant, Nick Robinson, Rick Witter, Biff Byford and Annabel Giles. I am also still on the lookout for more people.

A big thank you to everyone who has been involved so far, and for those coming up during 2018. The recent news of Beating Bowel Cancer merging with Bowel Cancer UK, creating the UK's leading bowel cancer charity gives fresh impetus to everyone, and the hope that by 2050 no-one will die of bowel cancer. I will be meeting the charity's Chief Executive, Deborah Alsina, for the book.

I've recently had a logo designed for my bowelcancerfundraising website, giving an identity to my fundraising efforts as things move forward. Have a look at the site as everything that is sold on the site is raising funds for the charity.

STOP Bowel Cancer Fundraising T-Shirts

In January I launched these 'STOP BOWEL CANCER' T-Shirts. The idea, being very simple, to help increase awareness about bowel cancer, and to raise some funds for Beating Bowel Cancer / Bowel Cancer UK. They have sold really well, and I have already received some great photos from some of the happy customers, but there is still plenty of room for more photos to be added 😉

I am selling the t-shirts for just £8 + P&P from my bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk website, and all proceeds raised from sales are donated to the charity. A massive thanks to Jocelyn at DMI Embroidery for supporting this venture, and enabling me sell the t-shirts at this great low price. The t-shirts are available in four colours and in a full range of sizes in both men's and ladies.

Please get behind this idea, and together we can help make a difference. Bowel cancer is the second highest cancer killer in the UK taking 16,000 lives each year. However, if detected early, it can be successfully treated in over 90% of cases. Much more needs to be done to increase awareness about this awful disease, and to improve early detection rates.

I have been fundraising since 2012, after Mum's bowel cancer diagnosis. She passed away in 2016, and all my fundraising is being done in her memory.

The Lives & Times Bowel Cancer Charity Book

On the back cover of the Lives & Times bowel cancer charity book I use the following description, "Over the course of 18 months I met and photographed people from all walks of life to form the chapters of Lives & Times. Every single person taking part has given up their own time to do it and all funds raised go to the Beating Bowel Cancer charity." And that's it really, but how can I entice anyone reading this to buy the book.

Inside the book there are over 100 photographs and over 40,000 words. I met Olympians Sir Steve Redgrave and Katherine Grainger. From the world of entertainment I met Gabby Logan, Lorraine Kelly, Alan Davies, Christopher Biggins and Matthew Wright.

There was always something interested to write having met people. Sometimes it was because they had an interesting story to tell or sometimes it was because something unexpected would happen. In the case of Clare Grogan from Altered Images I managed to get thrown out of the photo pit at the concert I was at! 

With Gail Porter I had a highly entertaining hour or so with her at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. She managed to get me on a loop-the-loop roller coaster! But Gail was typical of so many who responded immediately to my request with a yes, and took a leap of faith in this complete stranger who was on a mission to produce a charity book supporting Beating Bowel Cancer.

Music plays a big part in my life and it was not surprising that the book contains quite a few bands and musicians. For example there are chapters on The Wonder Stuff, Dodgy, The Alarm, Stiff Little Fingers, Billy Franks from The Faith Brothers, Horace Panter from The Specials, The Stranglers, Tim Wheeler from Ash, Dave Fenton from The Vapors, and Status Quo. In fact Quo were the very first band I approached and a few weeks later I was in the photo pit at the Hammersmith Apollo photographing the band. The evening had a strange ending...

Sport features in the book and as well footballing heroes such as Charlie Nicholas, Mick Channon and Phil Parkes, cricket features quite heavily. I spent months chasing BBC commentator Jonathan Agnew, and I finally got to meet him at Lords. I also got to meet David Lloyd, Melinda Farrell, Henry Blofeld, Michael Holding and Steve Harmison.



The book is entertaining, warm and I hope inspiring. I did not shy away from bowel cancer. In fact on a number of occasions the subject came up without me having any prior knowledge. I only found out the day before I met Clare Grogan that her husband has suffered from bowel cancer. I suppose this would help explain why some people were happy and keen to come on board and support the book. Some people have a personal connection with bowel cancer. MP Nadine Dorries lost a friend to bowel cancer and I ended up photographing her at Westminster. Author Freya North, who is an ambassador for the charity, lost a close friend to bowel cancer.



Actor Ben Richards has recovered from bowel cancer as has photographer David Levenson. Matthew Wright and Graham Fellows aka John Shuttleworth have both lost parents to bowel cancer.

The book is also full of normal everyday people. They may not be household names, but they all have a story to tell, and make up a vital part of the book. The late Norma de Bidaph at the time was in remission from bowel cancer, Rachel Chadwick author of 60 Postcards, publicans, the local football club, a translator from Brazil, an artist, and many more.

Last but not least the book features a chapter on my Mum, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012, and sadly passed away on August 29th, 2016 after a long four and a half years brave courageous battle. Bowel cancer is the 4th most common cancer, and the 2nd highest cancer killer in the UK. However if detected early it can be successfully treated in over 90% of cases. Much more needs to be done in raising awareness about this awful disease, and to increase early diagnosis rates.

So who can you expect to see in the book...

• Sir Steve Redgrave CBE
• Katherine Grainger CBE
• Phil Parkes
• Mick Channon
• Jonathan Agnew
• Henry Blofeld
• Lorraine Kelly
• Christopher Biggins
• Matthew Wright
• Freya North
• Ben Richards
• Carrie Grant
• Gail Porter
• Alan Davies
• Shaun Keaveny
• Mike Read
• John Shuttleworth
• Tom Rosenathal
• Antonia Mariconda
• Status Quo
• The Stranglers
• The Alarm
• Clare Grogan
• Mikes Hunt& Erica Nockalls
• Horace Panter
• My Mum!

And a whole load more....

So many fascinating experiences all put together in one book. Available in paperback, hardback and digital eBook. There are many ways you can order Lives & Times. Please support this book, as every penny I receive is donated to Beating Bowel Cancer / Bowel Cancer UK, the UK's leading bowel cancer charity. Over £3750 has been raised so far. 

Please check out my www.bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk website where, as well as the book, you can buy art, t-shirts, mugs and also portrait photo sessions.

The Beating Bowel Cancer Fundraising Book

So this is where my fundraising began in November 2012 with the Beating Bowel Cancer Fundraising Book. It was published shortly after her bowel operation, which successfully removed a section of her bowel containing the cancerous tumour. The care and attention mum received at Mount Vernon, Wexham Park and Harefield Hospitals was first class, and it was while mum was undergoing treatment that I decided I wanted to do something to raise funds for a cancer charity and give something back. I came upon Beating Bowel Cancer and have fundraised for them ever since. Their recent merger with Bowel Cancer UK means they are now the UK's leading bowel cancer charity.

It was in April 2012 that the dreaded cancer word came into our family. One minute I was sitting with my mother expecting a normal discharge from hospital, and then in the blink of an eye our world was turned upside down when we were told that mum had bowel cancer. She had been having trouble going to the toilet and was sent to Wexham Park Hospital for an endoscopy, and it was at that point we learned she had bowel cancer. Her treatment involved radiotherapy and chemotherapy to shrink the tumour, before a successful operation to remove it was performed in the September. She made an excellent recovery, although she had an operation to remove a cancerous nodule from her left lung in January 2013, and had to undergo the same operation on her right lung in the March.  For the next 18 months she did really well, but unfortunately in November 2014 we discovered that the cancer had returned to her left lung once again, and she underwent successful surgery in February to remove the nodule. Unfortunately before 2015 was out another nodule had appeared on her left lung, so the decision was taken to remove the lower lob of the left lung in early 2016. Worse was to follow as before any operation could take place, the cancer spread to her brain. She had CyberKnife treatment for that, and then had the lung surgery. Sadly the brain cancer treatment was not successful, and in the summer of 2016 she had a big seizure which paralysed her down one side and putting her back in Wexham Park Hospital. At this point in spite of valiant efforts by the medical team her condition became terminal, and she spent her last 5 weeks at the St. Marks Nursing Home in Maidenhead. She passed away on August 29th, 2016 with the family at her bedside one week after her 80th birthday.

The fundraising experience has been a massive journey of discovery. It soon become obvious just how important it also is to raise awareness about bowel cancer, as well as funds for the charity. Unfortunately running a business on my own imposes restrictions as to what I can do, but the idea of writing a book seemed the perfect solution. I had been a keen amateur photographer for a couple of years, and the idea I had was to write a book featuring photos on various subjects, ideas and technical approaches. Beating Bowel Cancer therefore is a charity book featuring a collection of photographs and the stories behind them to raise funds for the Beating Bowel Cancer /Bowel Cancer UK charity. All proceeds raised are donated to the charity. 

The ebook version on Amazon is £1.99 of which the £1.00 I earn is donated to the charity. It is for the Kindle, but there are freely available Kindle reader apps for Ipads, Iphones and computers. From outside the UK please use Amazon.com to buy the book.

The physical book version is available for £7.21 on Amazon with around £1 going to the charity  and it can also be bought from Create Space for $11.49. I have since added the book to my bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk website selling at £7.00 with each sale raising £2.45 for the charity. 

The original plan was to try and sell 1000 copies, but I would estimate that I have sold around 350 copies so I still have a long way to go! However it has raised over £500 over the years, and it was a brilliant learning curve giving me the confidence to produce the follow up book Lives & Times.

Welcome to Bowel Cancer Fundraising

Mum x

My mother died on August 29th 2016 from bowel cancer. She had been diagnosed 4 years earlier in 2012, and had undergone 5 operations during that time. The initial bowel operation was a success, but unfortunately the cancer had already spread to her left lung. The cancer kept returning, and each time she had nodules removed with surgery, but finally the cancer also spread to her brain, and her condition deteriorated. Mum became terminally ill during the summer of 2016. She died peacefully with me, and my brother and sister, at her bedside.

I began fundraising after Mum's bowel operation 2012, and since she passed away I have found the charity work to be a very cathartic and rewarding experience. I have met some amazing people in the cancer community - some of whom are sadly are no longer with us. This blog will talk about all of my fundraising efforts under one roof. In the past, whenever I have come up with a new fundraising idea, I have produced a new blog to go alongside it. Over time this has become quite difficult for me to keep track of, let alone the audience. So everything now will be under the same roof in this blog. Fundraising books have been the mainstay of what I do. Beating Bowel Cancer and Lives & Times have both done amazingly well, and my forthcoming third book The Record is well under way. All of these will feature in this blog, as well as everything that I am selling on my ETSY store. As well as promoting my fundraising efforts, the blog will talk about anything to do with bowel cancer. It would be nice to get the occasional guest writing a post too...

Please follow this blog, share my posts, and help me grow the audience. I want to raise as much money as possible for Bowel Cancer UK (Beating Bowel Cancer Together), the UK's leading bowel cancer charity. The fundraising currently stands at just over £4000.