Prize winning

As Great Britain hover around third on the Olympic medal table, we have witnessed some extraordinary scenes from the various sites around London (and further afield).  London 2012 has exceeded expectations and there is much talk of renewed inspiration in schools up and down the land.  The power of national pride is, it seems, not to be under estimated.

In a different part of London has been a rather different performance, but one certainly worthy of a prize.  The courage and determination are comparable to the best of Team GB.  Her grace and humility have taken my breath away on more than one occasion.  Shortly before her pre op assessments, Charlotte was given very encouraging news from the oncologists who confirmed that she had responded well to the gruelling chemo regimen.  This was a most welcome boost in advance the mammoth mammary surgery that she underwent last week. 

I am, quite simply, in awe of Charlotte's recovery.  Visiting her at the first possible opportunity, not even twenty four hours after she came round from the massive anaesthetic I was stunned to see her looking serene and chirpy, sitting up in bed, with four drains emanating from her sides like tendrils, the only obvious sign that the operation had actually happened.

Her journey so far has been a long and winding road.  It's had several twists and turns, some scary ascents, interspersed with hope, joy and tremendous love.  Her story is a reminder of the inescapable truth that things don't always go our way and this is when it really counts.  Charlotte has never been a cruiser.  Since first meeting her in '99, watching her train and perform as an elite athlete, on the water and on two wheels, this is a woman who knows when to pull out the stops.  And that's exactly how she's met and tackled the alien, whose invasion was first traced in January and has been tracked ever since. 

Regardless of their sport, Olympians all play long games.  It has been four years since Beijing, and it's another four until Rio.  In Charlotte, the so-called 'Big C' has met an even bigger C, prepared to go the distance, come what may.  Right behind her are a dedicated support team she can count on every step of the way.  In the absence of a medal this week, Charlotte has a new pair of pyjamas and some Union flag socks courtesy of M & S, a fitting prize for a well fought second battle of this particular fight. 

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

Ralph Waldo Emerson