Link to the 'about' story- www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmYeqZfu14s 

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Trew Fields Festival: July 5th – 7th July 2019: Thatched House Farm, near Dunsfold, Surrey

The world's first and only uplifting, taboo-smashing cancer awareness festival, Trew Fields, will see its third iteration this July. The ultimate 'restival', Trew Fields is an inspirational, stirring, colourful and informative health and wellbeing 'boutique' two-day event for anyone going through any kind of cancer and those interested in health, and for supportive partners, friends and family. Set against a classic English countryside backdrop, within a family farm, Trew Fields 2019 will host in excess of 80 inspiring speakers, holistic health experts, specialist workshop teachers, international doctors, and Stage 4 cancer thrivers and survivors.  With workshops on everything from gut health to disco yoga, from medicinal mushrooms to healthy cooking and from live fermentation to medicinal cannabis, Trew Fields in the day time is an opportunity to learn, question and to explore new wellbeing options.  With night-time fun and frolics including comedy, drumming and DJs, Trew Fields is a place to laugh, relax, self-educate, dance and celebrate all the wild curveballs that life throws our way. Tickets are currently available from £75 per person for the full weekend including camping. www.trewfields.com

Link to Trew Fields Trailer - https://videopress.com/v/kTbm3aKA 

Press Release

April 2019

Link to Trew Fields Trailer - https://videopress.com/v/kTbm3aKA  

TREW FIELDS; FACING TABOOS WITH THE WORLD'S ONLY HEALTH AND WELLBEING CANCER FESTIVAL

The world's first and only uplifting and taboo-facing cancer awareness festival, Trew Fields, will see its third iteration this July.  Set on a beautiful farm, just outside of Dunsfold in Surrey, from Friday 5th – Sunday 7th July, Trew Fields is an inspirational, stirring, colourful and informative wellbeing 'boutique' event and comfortable space to talk about 'taboo' topics, especially created for anyone going through any kind of cancer and those interested in health as well as supportive partners, friends and family.

Co-founded and co-curated by force of nature, 28 year old Sophie Trew, the ultimate 'restival' is the first output in Sophie's dedicated strategy to use and share her experience of cancer as a force for good. Sophie's mission with Trew Fields is ultimately to change the cancer narrative by speaking about topics that people are often afraid to discuss, utilising a summer fun festival setting as a way of helping open the doors of positive and empowering health and wellbeing options for those of all ages, experiencing health and cancer curveballs.

Sadly, the UK has some of the worst cancer survival rates in Europe, and Trew Fields aims to counteract this with the coming together of both sides of the health debate conventional and more alternative so that those experiencing cancer, and those working in the cancer arena, can positively unite and progress together.

Over two days, Trew Fields 2019 will host in excess of 80 inspiring and influential speakers, world-leading holistic health experts, specialist workshop teachers, international doctors, and Stage 4 cancer thrivers and survivors.  Top international speakers include Dr Nasha Winters, Sophie Sabbage, The Cancer Whisperer and Dr David Hamilton who recently gained global notoriety via the Netflix documentary 'Heal'. 

Other key speakers and session leaders include Fred The Forager from The Wild Side of life, Dr Robert Thomas and Saima Thompson from Curry and Cancer.  

Sophie Trew says, “I know so many people find this hard to believe, but if you approach cancer from a certain direction, there is a chance that you can use the experience in a positive and uplifting way.  And you can find ways to have fun, and to explore new, and unexpected opportunities and connections in life that you may not otherwise have made.”

Sophie continues, “Given that one in two people in the UK will be affected by cancer-based health challenges, and given that 90-95% of these issues are linked to lifestyle and environmental factors, with a surprisingly low 5-10% from genetic factors, it's so evident to me that there's lots that we can all be doing about prevention and about empowered health choices in all of our everyday lives. Cancer is such a taboo subject, yet so many people are touched by it.  So, I believe it's time to change the heavy cancer narrative.  It's time to delve into it all and talk about it an open, progressive and proactive way.  We've created Trew Fields as an uplifting opportunity to creatively and openly explore proactive health options for everyone.  This is also a space in time for those experiencing cancer to be able to let loose and to enjoy themselves. I truly believe it's everything I did alongside my chemotherapy with lifestyle changes and therapies, that has kept me thriving and healthy today and I'm keen for people to know they have more options available to them. Knowing we have options and can play an active role in our health can reduce the fear cancer brings.”

Trew Fields 2019 happenings and workshops will be running on everything from gut health to disco yoga, from medicinal mushrooms sampling sessions to healthy cooking demos and from live fermentation workshops to medicinal cannabis insights.

All day long, workshops and talks are accompanied by the most delicious of catering from the likes of Happy Maki, Amrutha and probiotic, gut-boosting drinks from Old Tree and craft brewery options from the onsite brewery Crafty Brewing Co as well as the freshest of smoothies and juices keeping festivalgoers infused with nutrition and refreshments throughout the weekend.

Then by night, like any festival, the music and the comedy romps up and Trew Fields attendees laugh, relax and dance the night away, against the backdrop of the stars and moon. DJ acts Dom Servini and Spinx and musicians Elli Ingram and Luke Jackson punctuate the creative programme, bringing funk, beats and the right kind of blues to the crowds. 

Sophie says, “When you're diagnosed with cancer or any other type of scary illness, it's an overwhelming time with lots of contradictory info, and it can be isolating and easy to feel desperately alone.  We've created Trew Fields to help with all of this and to balance brainfood education and entertainment.  Trew Fields is all about how to live well, and how to celebrate life and we strive to give all our festivalgoers the opportunity to come together around their shared challenges, and to kick back in the English countryside, in the midst of summer.  Everybody relaxes and rejuvenates together, having a brilliant time, within the normality of the collaborative experience, exploring workshops, talks and entertainment.  We're delighted to hear that lots of our festivalgoers have described their experience of Trew Fields as a life-changing one, and look forward to welcoming many more to the farm.”

Tickets currently from £75 per person for the full weekend including camping. www.trewfields.com

ENDS: Issued on behalf of Trew Fields by Excess Energy Communications.  For interviews, images or more info, please contact Claire Durkin or Else Welde on Claire@excess-energy.co.uk or Else @excess-energy.co.uk or by calling 01637 852130.

Notes to Editors:

More about Sophie Trew:

Trew Fields is the brainchild of Sophie Trew. Sophie was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2014 at the age of 23. After making a documentary in Colombia, Sophie discovered a lump on her neck. Due to travels in South America, she was initially diagnosed with TB, but after numerous tests, she heard the words “it's cancer.”

Sophie knew nothing about cancer or its causes. She didn't know anyone going through treatment or about ways to live well with the illness. Feeling out of control, she asked her doctor if there was anything she could do to support herself during chemotherapy. He answered: “Leave it with us, there's nothing you can do. Cancer is a lottery, there's no reason why you got it.”

As a journalism graduate, research became Sophie's coping mechanism during treatment. Instead of asking; “Why me?” Sophie wanted to explore “Why us?”

Her own diagnosis ignited more questions – why are cancer rates rocketing with little progress in treatment? Could it be that we're focused on treating a chronic illness with acute options? Diving into the causes and lifestyle medicine, she realised how much we can be doing to lead healthier, more energised lives. How with support and information people can thrive with cancer. 

Sophie built her own integrative recovery plan alongside 6 months of chemotherapy. This included gut healing, meditation, juicing, exercise, nutrition and lifestyle medicine. She had cancer in three body sites, with one lump the size of an orange on diagnosis. Within four months her scans were clear and she began learning to heal her mind, body and spirit. 

Having seen too many friends and family struggle through cancer, fearful about the limited options they had and in a lot of pain, Sophie wanted to use her own experience as a force for good. Trew Fields has become a legacy to those she knew who died of the disease, while giving strength to others and meaning to her own experiences. She wanted to bring light to the world of illness. Passionate about integrative medicine, the mind-body connection and a whole-person, personalised approach to healing. The festival is a space to bridge the health gap, representing a variety of voices in the field. Knowledge is power and information can help reduce fear of the unknown.  

Sophie says: “I believe everyone should have access to all health information and at the moment, this isn't readily available. Trew Fields​ is a space to explore this in an uplifting environment. When I was diagnosed it was a confusing and isolating time because although there was a lot of information, much of it was contradictory and negative. Through research I came across a proactive health and cancer community. Trew Fields​ was born out of a dream to bring together the people who inspired me in my recovery and a like-minded community in a context where we can share stories, exchange wisdom, have fun and build an empowered education movement. Above all, it's about hope, which is often lacking.”

The UK has some of the worst cancer survival rates in Europe. By coming together with open minds and representing both sides of the health debate, we can progress. Trew Fields aims to facilitate this progression.

Trew Fields was conceived as the UK's first Cancer Awareness festival, but it has become a space for anyone interested in holistic approaches to health, regardless of their experiences of cancer. It's a place to laugh, learn, relax, dance and celebrate all the wild curveballs life throws our way.  A “restival”, to rest and rejuvenate, if you will.