Feeling rubbish? A bit Monday-ish? Well here's a heartwarming (and we use that word sparingly, believe us) way to start your week.
Sisters (and great-granparents) May Race, 93, and Brenda Page, 81, have become to oldest Britons to jump on the #nomakeupselfiebandwagon - tweeting a smiling and makeup free picture of themselves and each donating £5 to Cancer Research UK. We know. Too amazing.
Brenda, who used to be a receptionist, said they pair felt compelled to do it because they had lost many of their friends and family to the disease, including their sister Ann. ‘We’d never heard of a selfie before but it was all a lot of fun. I have certainly never taken one before. We’re not well up with those things, you see,' she said of taking the snap. ‘I had to concentrate while I was pressing the button, so my sister has a bigger smile than me. It was a bit iffy but huge fun.'
The picture was posted on Twitter by May’s granddaughter 40 year-old Jemma Greef, who couldn’t be prouder of the pair. ‘Nan is still recovering from a stroke and fall last year and she found it difficult to hold the camera herself, so mum held it while Brenda pressed the button. They were giggling so much we had to have four attempts! Nan and great auntie Brenda have always supported Cancer Research UK because they lost their sister, Ann, to stomach cancer. Also my dad died of prostate cancer several years ago and that had a big impact on the family.’
May and Brenda, from Norfolk, come from a big family of nine siblings and have 11 children, 23 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren between them. So it's fair to say they've seen a lot of life. What, then, do they make of the #nomakeup trend? ‘I never wore makeup even when I was younger so that part didn’t bother me,' says Brenda. 'But May was always one for wearing it.'
But retired pub landlady May wasn't fazed: ‘We’re both a bit old to do things like Race for Life, so we thought doing our own selfie was a way to make a contribution as well as having a bit of a laugh.’
And with this - the oldest people to post a selfie as part of the #nomakeupselfie trend - it's fair to say we've now been through every phase possible of the social media phenomenon since Fiona Cunningham started the trend almost by accident. It’s spawned some amazing spin-offs, including a young woman posting her injuries from an assault in a club to raise awareness of sexual harassment. And questionable ones, including #cocksinsocks and #titsinmitts. But most importantly it's now raised an epic £8m for Cancer Research and seen women who've been through cancer get to tell their warning stories. To think we were that little bit cynical at the start? No more.
Follow Sophie on Twitter @sophiecullinane
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.