WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!
I’m Sally, co-founder of MATM along with Amy.
I’m 26 and I come from Kent. I am heavily into motorsport and music, I play guitar and have been singing since I was a little one. I got into rock music through my older brother who was a huge fan of metal and rock along with all sorts of other music. I’m super creative, I love sewing and I’m creating new projects all the time. At heart, I’m a huge nerd and a lot of my time is spent playing Warhammer, gaming, cosplaying and watching anime!
HOW’D YOU GET INTO ALL THIS?
I saw a post from Amy, explaining that Download 2026 would be a celebration for her as she was finishing chemo, the same situation I was in. I remembered standing at Download 2025 knowing it would be my last hurrah before starting treatment, having been diagnosed with cancer just 10 days before. At that point, I think I was still in shock and disbelief.
Amy and I ended up talking in length daily, comparing treatments and feelings, slowly coming to realise that we’d each found in the other someone who not only shared common interests but understood the physical and mental battles we were facing.
I also had been talking to an another lady (check out Lexi’s story!) about meeting up at Download as she also had a double mastectomy and posted about it in the Download group l. I mentioned it to Amy and told her that we should all meet up, now we’re a few months on, MATM was formed and has become the awesome space it is today!
HOW YOU DOING?
I’m now on the last stage of my journey after six months of chemo, a double mastectomy, fifteen radiotherapy sessions and now a year of targeted therapy due to my histology reports. I’m doing okay, although I’m battling long term side effects and the mental aspect is difficult. I’m having to readjust to not only how I look now, but also how I feel mentally and god I am so tired. Chronic fatigue is real!!!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE BAND?
A bunch! Don Broco, Bad Omens, Sleep Token, Tool, Ghost, gosh the list goes on and on…
WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY?
Painting and building Warhammer models, writing music, playing Dungeons & Dragons with my friends. I’m also a gamer, let me know if anyone wants to play Space Marine 2!
I also spend time doing t’ai chi and reading lots!
I’ve always been creative and enjoy painting and making clothes. Recently I’ve started to make myself clothes that fit my new body better as all mainstream clothes seem to be made for people with boobs!
WHAT’S YOUR CRAZIEST FESTIVAL STORY?
Last year at Download 2025, during Korn’s set, we started a macarena mosh pit. During that, we turned around and saw our mate dancing with a guy who was using giant googled eye stickers as nipple tassels. Our mate (a very dear friend of mine, Jason) was very much enjoying his special show, all while wearing a T-shirt that said “daddy” in the Barbie font. Just Download things.
WHAT’S A QUOTE OR SONG LYRIC THAT SPEAKS TO YOU?
“And nobody told me I’d be begging for relief
When what is silent to you feels like it’s screaming to me
Well, nobody told me I’d get tired of myself
When it all looks like heaven but it feels like hell”
Damocles by Sleep Token was the last song I listened to before my mum picked me up to take me to my results appointment. It was the last song I heard before I heard the words “you have cancer” and ten days later, I stood at Download seeing it performed live. I fell apart. Screaming every word with tears streaming down my face. Every time I listen to it now it reminds me of my pre cancer life. That song has been a huge part of my journey.
