Question 1

What is an FAQ section?

Accepted Answer

An FAQ section can be used to quickly answer common questions about #ITSALOT like "Where do you ship to?", "What are your opening hours?", or "How can I place an order?".

Question 2

Who runs #ITSALOT?

Accepted Answer

#ITSALOT is run by me, Claire - with the support of my husband, Mark, daughter Annabellle, best friend Sam and sometimes, on the odd occasion, my two sons, Teddy and Benjamin (when they aren't off playing football or being mischievous). We're a small, heart-led team, packing every order with care and usually with a cup of tea close by.

Question 3

Why did you start #ITSALOT?

Accepted Answer

I created #ITSALOT during one one of hardest chapters of my life - having being catapulted, with great force, into the cancer world and having a stage 4 melanoma diagnosis land at my feet, completely out of the blue, with no illness and symptoms what so ever. Still working full time in finance, parenting 3 small children, and holding myself together while everything felt like it was falling apart. I had lost my Mum 3 years prior to covid, so I felt the grief resurface from losing her all over again, I felt I needed her more in them early days of my diagnosis than I ever needed her before, and she was gone, it made me spiral even further.

There were days when I couldn't find the words when people would ask "how are you?"....and so my response would be "Its a lot" but I always knew that statement was crying out to be finished off with something positive, because, it will all be OK, i just know it.

I didn't set out to build a brand, who has time for that when dealing with life as a busy, working Mum. I set out to survive, and in making sure that happens, my mind needed to be busy, not stressed, it needs to be enjoying what I do, and definitely not over thinking every tiny detail or disappearing down rabbit holes of could've, should've, would've. Stage 4 melanoma is not a pleasant illness to pop into a search engine and read the information that appears.

In January 2024, when I was given my stage 4 melanoma diagnosis, after going to the doctors with a swollen shoulder, no dodgy mole that I'd seen change, or skin lesion that would not heal - my life cracked open, and we were juggling such major life altering news, along with hospital appointments, immunotherapy and the aray of side effects that brings to the table, parenting 3 amazing children, and trying to keep a home and career going while falling apart.
There were moments when everything felt too much, I received life saving surgery after an internal bleed happened, and I didn't need inspiration at that point, I didn't want clichés, I just needed someone to say: "Yes, it's a lot, but it will be OK"
So I started saying it to myself, and then to the people around me. And now - to you.

#ITSALOT was born in the middle of the mess. It's more than a slogan on clothing, it's a quite knowing, a wearable reminder, and a reassurance.

This isn't just about cancer. It's for:

- the mums who are burnt out and still showing up
	- the carers who feel invisible
	- the grief that hits when the world keeps moving
	- the healing, the hospital bags, the night feeds
	- the mental load, the schedules, the work meetings
	- the people doing their best with no one asking how they are
	- the self employed, the employed, and those struggling to find work

We're not here to tell you to be positive, we are here to remind you, it will all be OK.

Every hoody, tee and tote is created from that place. Soft, strong and printed with love.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is an FAQ section?

Who runs #ITSALOT?

Why did you start #ITSALOT?