A mum who had a mastectomy just before her 40th birthday has raised more than £3,500 for cancer charities.
Sarah-Jane Mason, 41, who lives on Penzance Close, in Broken Cross, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May last year at the age of 39, after developing a pain in her arm that would not go away.
Despite undergoing chemotherapy at the Macmillan Cancer Resource Centre at Macclesfield Hospital and radiotherapy at the Christie, the brave mum-of-one set about raising as much money as possible for charities which supported her, taking on a series of challenges during her treatment.
Sarah-Jane, who is now in remission, said: “Throughout it all I just felt I had to be positive and, instead of dwelling on what was going on around me, I looked what I could do for other people as there was always someone worse off than me when I went for my chemotherapy.
“Macmillan were amazing. They were just there for me - they were a friendly ear and just understand what people are going through.
“I had a massive amount of support from Macmillan nurses - nothing was too much for them, so it was my way to give something back.”
Sarah-Jane, who lives with her husband, Phil, 46, and son, Ethan, 10, was still being treated for cancer when she took part in a zip wire challenge, entered the Walk of Hope at Tatton Park with her mum, Margaret Jennings, and hosted a coffee morning at Gawsworth Methodist Church and Scout Hall.
And she took part in the Manchester Race For Life for Cancer Research UK just two days after undergoing chemotherapy, and did it again in June.
Altogether the former Gawsworth Primary and All Hallows pupil raised £3,160 for Macmillan and a further £500 for the Christie.
Sarah-Jane was diagnosed two years ago after developing a pain in her arm. She did not suspect anything at first but then a mammogram revealed she had the disease.
The GSCE progress and achievement manager at Cheadle College also praised an aftercare programme at Sutton Hall.
She said: “Just being in the same room as other people in the same situation made me realise I wasn’t alone.”
Sarah-Jane is now set to take on the 10km Night of Neon race in Manchester in aid of The Christie on Saturday, October 22.
Pupils host giant coffee morning - see page 20.
