I'm sure you've noticed we've been incredibly busy and very active in raising awareness of gynaecological cancers . We have produced two awareness campaigns, supported by an animation and video on ovarian cancer, two cervical cancer campaigns and animation "Never Fear a Smear" as well as our own GO Girls animation to let you all know where to go to for support. We manage an online support group with nearly 800 members and we are growing everyday - with our unique blend of advice, support and hugs.    We've written over 40 press releases, issued over 7,500 tweets and managed over 100 fundraising events. This is a phenomenal amount of work by a very, very small team, most who work full-time.

And our most significant achievement has been to fund a consulting room at our local hospital, Dorset County, raising a staggering £50,000. We had not set out to fundraise in this way, but after one of our GO Girls (who has now passed away from ovarian cancer) held a very successful fundraising event, we were approached by the hospital to see if we would support their Cancer Appeal.  We started with a target of £25,000 and as I signed the pledged I could feel my heart in my mouth wondering how we were ever going to manage this and so the fundraising began growing to a staggering £50,000 over the last two years. Whilst we are now a national charity we started in Dorset and have left a huge legacy for the community.

But to be sure we couldn't have done this without the support of an incredibly small and dedicated team. Whilst not wanting this to sound like an Oscars speech - it is so important to thank those who have given up so much time to help make what we have achieved a reality. My former Vice Chair Teresa Wolff has been instrumental in enabling us reach our £50,000 target - a total rock - full of fun and creativity. Together with Teresa's support we have been backed by a very small and dedicated team turning up to endless events in all weathers: Diane, Carol, Anne, Beth and Steve, Rod and Ann and Natalee - there has been laughter and tears, many sore backs and lots of wet hair standing in the rain. Jen, our new Vice Chair and Head of Strategy, for her phenomenal work on our website.

Tim and Julie raised incredible amounts doing what they love - running. Tim running practically around half the globe and up mountains with Julie running across endless muddy fields in Dorset - often in some very grim weathers. Olivia took on an incredibly tough triathlon, training for months from barely being able to run up the street to a huge success by completing the event in 2016. Others include Krissy, David and Margaret Nelmes, One Voice Weymouth, Krystal undertaking the harbour swim on Xmas Day and Tamsin, Karen and Kate completing a gruelling marathon. Thanks also to Alison Dagul: also Angela, Clare and her family for their unstinting support and being such great models. Sue Homer produced endless cakes for us to sell, covered in the usual GO Girls sparkle and glitter. And finally Rue and Sarah for fundraising at their Xmas Party.

Alongside this we have been supported by many corporate partners and alliances, Symonds and Sampson, McCarthy & Stone, Just Sing Choir, Tony Fuller and the Dorset Collective, The Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Kevin Brookes, the Duchy of Cornwall, The Duchess of Cornwall, John Gurd Media, Simon Emmett Photography, Emma Grant Photography, Seven Springs Studio, The Gallery on the Square, Advantage Digital Print, 123 Website Design,  The Purbeck Workshop, Carla Taylor at the Mousehole Woolery, Angie Violino, designer, Evrim Akylimaz, Animator, Third Dimension, Embrace Hair and Beauty, Belissima Hair, Lesley Walters, The Poet Laureate,  Dorchester Nissan, Frank Herring & Sons, Waitrose Poundbury, Caroline, Rachel and Harry at the Dorset Echo and broadcaster Nick Ross.  

We are so fortunate to be supported by our wonderful patron, comedienne Helen Lederer - thanks Helen.  

The work must continue as we step into the next stage of our charity development - we've worked so hard - we cannot let this momentum stop. Whilst, of course, we can stand still for a while and reflect on such amazing achievements (and we rightly should), we must keep moving forward. We have a very effective year planned, focusing on awareness, education and support - our three key charitable objectives.  

We are looking forward to a successful year ahead with our corporate partners, Porter Dodson, Brighter Directions and Floral Couture by Jay, as well as working closely with the GO Girls photographer, Simon Emmett. Our Trustees continue to put in so much effort to make GO Girls the success it is and work very hard on your behalves

It would be wrong to finish this without a massive thank you to my husband, Alastair. He has unstintingly supported me with the GO Girls work for the last 3 years. The last 2 have been incredibly hard work and he has tolerated my absence almost every weekend for the last two years fundraising for the Cancer Appeal and working almost every evening - thank you amazing husband, and for also being our amazing Treasurer.

There is just one person that I always hold onto when times are tough - Jan. Jan lost her life to ovarian cancer. She was truly inspirational and when the going gets tough, I only have to think of her, her words of wisdom and her commitment to create change to know we are doing the right thing - long may this legacy continue in her amazing daughters, Natalee and Verity.