 |
| Ben Richards |
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. No matter what was put in front of her, she was courageous and dignified throughout. After each operation the first thing she wanted to know was when could she ride her horse and drive her car again. Sadly Mum passed away on August 29th 2016, and all my fundraising on bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk is being done in her memory.
For the Lives & Times fundraising book, and the new book, The Record, I have photographed many people, and this is what has probably planted the seed of the idea to offer these charity portrait photograph sessions in my mind. I met and photographed Ben Richards back in 2014 for Lives & Times, and it was one of those chapters I did when I really had to pinch myself. Ben was rehearsing for the hit musical, Rock of Ages, which was going on tour around the UK. After doing the photography Ben invited me into the rehearsal studio to watch a full run through of the show. It was a wonderful experience described in full in the chapter in the book. Ben was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012, and following successful treatment has been in remission since 2013. Ben is a patron of Bowel Cancer UK.
During bowel cancer awareness month, the fundraising continues, and much more needs to be done to 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. At the moment less than 15% of patients are diagnosed at stage 1, which gives them the best chance of surviving bowel cancer.
Now is the perfect time of the year 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 just over 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 over £3750.
For more information please use the contact form, or you can buy a session from bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk.
