Claire gives £1150 to Pretty ‘n’ Pink

The mother-of-three keen runner who has raised an amazing £7000 for various charities, this year ran the Belfast Marathon and raised £1150 for Pretty ‘n’ Pink breast cancer charity. Pupils at Lisnagarvey High where she works also gave a helping hand when a pink day was held. Pupils wore something pink and handed in donations.

Claire (45), who has beaten breast cancer twice particularly wanted to raise money for the Pretty ‘n’ Pink charity as they had been so supportive of her when she was undergoing radical treatment.

They sent her £350 when Claire was at a particularly low ebb. She spent it on home heating oil and an overnight stay at a luxurious hotel. She always made a promise to herself that if she beat cancer she would pay the money back.

Claire was first diagnosed with cancer at the age of 29. She had been breast feeding at the time and noticed a lump. Her gut feeling was that all was not good despite reassurances from doctors that all was well.

“I just thought that there was a lump and it should not be there and insisted that it be removed,” she said.

It was only after surgery, that it was discovered that it was indeed breast cancer. She had radical bouts of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. At a check up she was told she had more chance of being hit by a bus than she would of cancer returning.

“I felt good because I believed that I had beaten it and felt like someone who had never had breast cancer,” she said.

However, her worst nightmare became a reality when she found another lump and was told she had breast cancer once again.

She had radical surgery, followed by reconstructive surgery and six months of chemotherapy.

To keep herself active and her mind off her treatment at the time she would run and often seen with a wig on.

“One day I would have a short wig on, the next I would have a long wig on. Neighbours found it hilarious,” she said.

Beaten cancer twice Claire, now sees the world differently. “I do not dwell on breast cancer anymore,” she said.