Stepping down as CoppaFeel! CEO means I can impact the charity in a different way… and gives me more time to bake

IT has been six months since I stepped down as CEO of CoppaFeel! and although I still have to fight the urge to email the team every second of the day, I am happy I decided to go part-time.

I didn’t do it because I am not able to work, I am actually more than capable of working – for which I am really grateful – but the charity had grown to a place where it needed something new.

I still get to have the best of both worlds. I get to work on some really exciting projects with the team AND spend time in Cornwall and do stuff far removed from anything cancer-related.

In fact, my twin Maren and I bought a vintage French Citroen van and have turned it into a coffee and cake truck.

I now spend my weekends baking, frothing milk and chatting to locals and happy holidaymakers about everything but cancer – and it’s wonderful.

As children we adored playing pretend restaurant or shop and would make our parents part with money for a slice of toast and cream cheese.

We also created a shell museum and charged passers-by an entrance fee to look at our shells.

Basically, we were savvy and silly German kids. And cool. So, so cool.

To turn our childhood dream into a reality is pretty special and I can tell you, without doubt, cancer made us brave and bonkers enough to take the gamble.

Cancer may have taken my boob but it’s given me balls instead.

Running CoppaFeel! made me realise how being my own boss gave me the freedom and control I so desperately needed when cancer tries to strip you of those things.

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Some friends have been surprised that I have jumped from one busy life to another, they expected me to slow down and live a simpler life. But it was never my intention to slow down.

I get mildly offended when people say I should do nothing, take it easy. Why?

Unless you can prove doing nothing and taking it easy will extend my life, I will carry on at the pace I am going, ta.

My passion for saving lives hasn’t wavered and, if anything, with my friend Laura dying, I am more fired up than ever. It’s just that the way in which I spend my time has changed.

The way I can support the charity has a different impact now and it’s better for me and for CoppaFeel! – and for the caffeine and cake lovers of Cornwall.