The Strength Project #8 ~ Evie Hope Whittaker

By Lucy Harbron - 16:49

"Sometimes being afraid can show more strength than being fearless"

Every now and then you encounter people that blow you away with their strength and positivity. I went to the same school as Evie for years so news of her diagnosis with a brain tumour came as a sad shock to everyone, but her incredible, inspiring attitude has served as a reminder of how strong someone can be in the face of hardship. I knew I had to get Evie involved with the project as I think she's so bloody inspiring and brave, and if anyone's got some valid thoughts on strength, this girl definitely has...

What does strength mean to you?

I couldn’t have done the past few months without strength. To me, strength is being able to endure throughout a situation that's unusual to you, for example for me it was an operation and radiotherapy. I felt extremely scared but I had to gather the strength and think to myself you can do this. Strength is having faith that you will get through the bad time and the power to do it is within you.

Could you tell me about a time when strength was evident in your life?

One time strength was evident this year was the time around my operation. One of my fears has always been having surgery as I was scared I wouldn't wake up after it or would wake up during and feel what was happening, although I had this fear I just accepted that the surgery needed to be done to remove the tumour and went in no problem and came out and after I asked for a Chinese in the recovery room so I wasn't too bothered about it haha.

You’re super honest and open about your battle with cancer through social media and your blog, do you think sharing your thoughts and experiences is beneficial to your strength?

Yeah definitely it helps to be able to just write about it and get my feelings out there and also I'd love if the things I write could help other people in a similar situation.

You have so many messages of support on your social media, do you think people’s response to your battle helps or hinders?

I think it definitely helps me to be stronger, knowing that I have support throughout this and that people appreciate me sharing my experience definitely helps as having people around you also helps with strength and knowing you have touched people helps also.

Do you think strength is something you’re born with or something you develop?

I think strength is something that you're born with but you have to develop throughout life, we go through so many different experiences in life where strength is needed and mistakes I've made and things I've experienced have helped to educate me and knowledge makes us stronger

Do you think your battle with cancer has changed how you view strength?

Yes I think it has because I've never had an experience where I've had to remain so strong but now I have so I think my view on strength has changed because I know how to build my strength and keep staying strong better than before I was diagnosed.

When do you feel strongest?

Hmm this is a tough one.. I feel strongest when I have to go through something that's unusual to me and I don't really want to happen but I just do it and endure it such as going into radiotherapy, I was completely alone in the room and my radiotherapy mask is pinned down to the table so I couldn't move my head; it was a very scary experience but I got through 6 weeks of it, I feel strongest in situations that I'm not used to or I don't particularly like because I just do these things even though I may be scared but my strength gets me through.

Could you sum up what strength means to you in 3 words?

Courage bravery determination

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Evie is super positive and open online so make sure to take a look at her social media/blog! She's an incredible gal and I'm sending her all the good vibes in the world.

Find Evie-

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