Seventy hours after her diagnosis, our Lozza was masterminding it all. ‘It’ being the design and distribution of an iconic set of breast-emblazoned slogan tees created purely for the purpose of giving cancer the middle finger.
Having never been one to take things lying down (oh, stop it), creating our OG tees was a method of becoming her own hero – the one we know and adore today. It was also a way for Lozza to face-up to her shitty titty situation, take control and occupy her mangled mind.
One of the many things that isn’t spoken about enough in cancer-land is the financial implications of this dickhead disease. Chemo kicks your arse and kiboshes your brain like no other, so it’s no surprise that treatment and work don’t always go hand-in-hand. Not even for a powerhouse like Ms Mahon, who’s been grafting hard since her teens. Those burgers in Fulham weren’t gonna flip themselves, were they?
Real talk. Between the intricacies and bureaucracy of sick pay and an overstretched benefit system, you might be at risk of watching your financial security (and savings) slip down the drain. Not even the sprinkling of housing support and grants from incredible charities can make things less bleak. Just as well then that, thanks to her booby brainwave, Lauren succeeded in keeping a roof over her own head. What’s more, money from every TIT-TEE sold went to supporting charity chums and tackling cancer taboos.
Long story short, our legend was born.
Lauren’s shoot notes:
Eight of my old school blogger babe-dem came to my aid to shoot the first (of many) GIRLvsCANCER campaigns. We laughed. We posed. We froze. It was December 2016 on an East London council estate, mate.
We ate pizza and chatted at length about the long old slog I was about to endure. Questions were asked. Oh so many questions. And I realised in answering them that it’s absolutely ridic we’re not more educated about the impact of the c-bomb. Especially as 1 in 2 of us will square up to the little sod at some point in our lives.
After four months, two paydays and six chemo cycles in the making, I finally had the pleasure of asking people to support the GIRLvsCANCER movement. It meant so much more than tees. It was a lifeline.
CAST AND CREW
Featured:
Lauren Mahon
Hannah Louise F
Alya Mooro
Emma Hill
Laura Jane Williams
Millie Cotton
Abbie Tanner
Lindsey Holland
Megan Gilbride
Crew:
Photography by Moeez Ali