Emma's story - the inspiration behind Lions, Tigers & Bears - the site for people affected by cancer
Emma's story
I am a married mum to two teenage girls (Lauren & Devon) plus two elderly cocker spaniels (Daisy & Brody). We all live with
husband Lee in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Until all of this, I worked as a Sales Director selling media advertising in London.
I started Lions, Tigers & Bears after my own diagnosis of breast cancer, as I found it hard both during and after cancer treatment,
to find certain essential items and information all in one place.
In early 2017, just a few months after my 40th birthday, I was diagnosed with grade 3 triple negative breast cancer, having found
a lump in my breast in the shower. I subsequently underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy and twenty sessions
of radiotherapy. Following my diagnosis, I looked for products to help me manage my diagnosis and side effects.
I stripped the toxins and nasty chemicals out of my diet and beauty products. I embraced natural remedies to help me manage
my side effects and realised the importance of a healthy, balanced approach to diet and fitness. Throughout it all, it was vitally
important that I continued to feel like me, which is not easy when you're being battered by treatment and your mind is melting from
the sheer enormity of what you are going through.
It seemed there was a lack of information for what most of us would deem ‘the simplest of things’. I recall spending hours
researching toxin-free beauty products and trying to find hats that fit my personality, whilst my friends told me that they
wanted to buy me presents, but had no idea what might be suitable for someone going through cancer.
Throughout it all, I struggled to find the products I wanted or needed - so much seemed to be designed for a much older woman
with a different style aesthetic and/or stuffed with the toxic chemicals I was working hard to eradicate from my life.
I found most websites to be very “patienty” and medical, or old and clunky. I wanted to create a site where cancer patients could come for a positive shopping experience, which still felt like they were shopping for nice things.
So, I bought the domain and started the site one night in a steroid and frustration induced post-chemo haze, with the aim of
building the kind of site that I was looking for and couldn't find.
It started from the idea of wanting to create a website where people in a similar position to me (whatever their age, gender or
the type of cancer) could find the products they needed to support them through and after treatment. I also wanted a space where
loved ones could find suitable and appropriate gifts for relatives suffering with cancer, to show they care.
Lions, Tigers and Bears focus’ on high quality products which help you to feel more confident and more like yourself, help you to
support your body through treatment and help to reduce the toxic load on your life. Lions, tigers & bears works with lots of small,
independent brands with an emphasis on sustainable, conscious businesses in line with our own values.
www.lionstigersandbears.uk.com
Lions Tigers and Bears Enquiries to:
Emma Kennedy
Mob: 07769 214779
E: emmak@lionstigersandbears.uk.com
PR & press enquiries to:
Gemma Varnfield
Bugalicious PR
www.bugaliciouspr.com
Mob: 07886286757
E: Gemma@bugaliciouspr.com