Rachael Bland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rachael Bland
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Bland in a video for Stylist, 2018
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| Born |
Rachael Rebecca Hodges
21 January 1978 Cardiff, Wales
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| Died | 5 September 2018 (aged 40) Cheshire, England
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| Cause of death | Breast cancer |
| Education | University of Wales University of Central Lancashire |
| Occupation | Journalist and presenter |
| Spouse(s) |
Steve Bland
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 1 |
Rachael Rebecca Bland (born Rachael Hodges; January 21, 1978 – September 5, 2018) was a British journalist and TV host. She was from Cardiff, Wales. Rachael worked for several BBC channels, including BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC World News.
She became well-known for her podcast, You, Me and the Big C. She started this podcast while she was dealing with breast cancer. In the show, she talked about her experiences and how the disease was treated. Before she passed away, she wrote a book called For Freddie. This book was published after her death.
Contents
Rachael Bland's Career
Rachael Bland was born in Cardiff. She began her career by reading news updates for BBC Local Radio at BBC Wiltshire. Later, she moved to BBC Radio 5 Live. There, she first read the news on Richard Bacon's show.
She then started presenting sports on television. She also filled in as a presenter on the BBC News Channel and BBC World News. In 2011, BBC Radio 5 Live moved to MediaCityUK in Salford Quays. After this move, Rachael began presenting for BBC North West Tonight. She worked as both a newsreader and a main relief presenter.
Her Personal Life
In September 2013, Rachael married Steve Bland. He was a producer for BBC Radio 5 Live. They had one son together, named Freddie.
Rachael was also an athlete. She competed in triathlons, which combine swimming, cycling, and running. In 2010, she took part in the London Triathlon. She used this event to raise money for Breast Cancer Care. She also completed the London Marathon several times.
Her Illness and Advocacy
In November 2016, Rachael was diagnosed with a type of triple-negative breast cancer. Even after her diagnosis, she continued to present on Radio 5 Live. She wanted people to know her as "Rachael the news presenter" instead of "Rachael the cancer patient."
After her diagnosis, Rachael started the BBC podcast You, Me and the Big C. She wanted to help people learn more about cancer. On the podcast, she talked with famous people and gave advice on managing the disease. Her co-hosts were fellow cancer patients Deborah James and Lauren Mahon. The podcast became very popular. Medical experts often appeared on the show. The hosts used humor to help cope with their situation.
In early 2018, Rachael joined a study for a new treatment at the Christie Hospital in Manchester. She hoped it would stop or slow down her cancer. However, the treatment was not successful. In May, she shared that her cancer had spread and could not be cured. She still hoped for more treatments to live longer.
Rachael kept writing her blog and hosting You, Me and the Big C. She wanted to create many memories for her son. Near the end of her life, she announced she had written her life story. She hoped it would be published one day. In June, people set up a crowdfunding page to help her family go on a holiday together.
Death and Lasting Impact
In August 2018, Rachael Bland announced she had less than a year to live. On September 3, she posted on Twitter that her "time had come." She said she only had a few days left. She passed away two days later, at the age of 40.
During that week, her podcast You, Me and the Big C became the number one podcast on the iTunes Podcast charts. Many people shared their tributes to her. These included Dan Walker, Dame Kelly Holmes, and former Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne. Busted's Charlie Simpson also paid tribute. Health secretary Matt Hancock said her legacy showed how much more work is needed to fight cancer.
Her co-hosts continued the You, Me and the Big C podcast. On February 21, 2019, her book For Freddie was published. She dedicated the book to her son.
On June 28, 2019, the American rock band The Killers honored Rachael. They dedicated their song "A Dustland Fairytale" to her during a concert at Cardiff Castle.
See also
In Spanish: Rachael Bland para niños
