Jules Peters
Posted by Love Hope Strength on Oct 6, 2008
Jules Peters was born and raised in Wales and lives there today, raising her two children, Dylan (aged 4) and Evan (aged 21 months). Jules is married to Mike Peters, lead singer of The Alarm and together they make a perfect team of artist and manager. This year they celebrate 20 years of marriage and 20 years of working together in the music business. Jules runs The Alarm Information Service and www.thealarm.com , juggling the logistics of a rock and roll lifestyle with motherhood.
In recent years, Jules has been faced with the double whammy of infertility (due to an appendicitis operation) and Mike’s diagnosis with leukaemia in 2005, just a year after their precious son, Dylan was born.
“Looking back, I’m not quite sure how we survived the cancer diagnosis” laughs Jules. “We were so happy in December 2005. Happy, like no-one can quite understand due to the fact that we had just been through 4 years of gruelling fertility treatment. IVF isn’t an easy road. The not knowing. The waiting. The worst of times. And then, like magic, after 4 IVF attempts, Dylan was conceived and it felt like life was restored once more after living such a half-life for so long.”
“Then, BOOM! In December 2005, our life was literally turned upside down. It was like freefall. Life spinning into slow motion but we couldn’t collapse. We had Dylan to think of. We had to be strong.”
“I remember returning from playgroup with Dylan and seeing Mike, standing before me, dressed from head to foot in green and I knew, in that instance, that the dreaded cancer was back. “(Mike had been diagnosed with non hodgkins lymphoma back in 1995 but went into unexplained spontaneous remission, a few months later, after dressing completely in green, when a faith healer told him that green was his protective colour).
“During Mike’s chemotherapy, he infuriatingly insisted that our rock and roll life had to continue.” sighs Jules. “I could have strangled him at the time but had to honour his wishes (at the time, I thought they were his dying wishes!) This involved a trip to Texas and a concert! (during his 6 months of chemo). ‘As you do!’ I insisted that we couldn’t go, unless we had some kind of support network to link up with in the USA (bearing in mind that Mike was uninsureable due to his leukaemia diagnosis). “
“It was at that time that my cancer fairy came to my aid, in the shape of the gorgeous James Chippendale. (Thank you James!). James put my mind at rest, organised a second referral for Mike and quite frankly turned cancer into a 5 star experience, like only James could :). Over a few beers in Texas in March 2006, the Love Hope Strength foundation was born and the rest is now history. Thank you, Shannon. What would we do without you?!!!!!”
“Here in 2008 and 20 years of marriage later, Mike asked me to join him in his trek to Machu Picchu, Peru. I am leaving behind my precious boys in Wales, Dylan (and now Evan, who was conceived from a frozen embryo transfer during Mike’s chemotherapy treatment in 2007 and is in fact, Dylan’s conceptual twin!) I shall miss them both desperately but know that they will be safe with Naini and Taidi (Pete and Dot - what would we do with out you - thank you for everything!!!!)”
“Alongside my business commitments, I spend my spare time working on “Love Hope Strength” here in the UK, with the ever supportive Katrina Copping (also on this trek) Peter and Dorothy (my parents!) and Maria Hallows, back in the UK. We raised £43000 last year for our two local hospitals (whom treated Mike) c/o Snowdon Rocks and look set to raise the same amount again for this year’s endeavours. My life has been forever changed by cancer and I want to help give every person some ‘love hope and strength’ for when or if, god forbid, they ever find themselves in the position that we found ourselves.”
“I like to think that we, the Peters family, are living proof, that there is life beyond cancer. Sure, we take life each day at a time but we take it! Peru Rocks here we come!!!!”
“I’ll be travelling to Peru with some love hope strength in my heart and a determination to give others ’strength’ that cancer is something that can be overcome.”
“I have also lost my two dear Grandparents, Nain and Taid in the last 2 years after over 40 years of my life with their presence and my trek to Machu Picchu will be devoted to their memory. I miss you both so much.”
“Mike and I couldn’t have done it without our family and friends and I want to say a big heartfelt thank you to all of you (you know who you are) for being there for us and helping us along our rocky road. Special thanks to friends on our Peru Rocks Team, Alex Coletti (always there for us), Oli Powell (our pageboy (!) and dear supportive mate through thick and thin). To Pete, Dot and Marj - thanks for being our shoulder. To cry on and to smile 
Love hope strength,
Jules Peters
October 2008
