A SCHOOL staff member mum-of-two spoke of her experiences of cancer as students raised funds at the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.
Grace Academy Solihull raised over £200 for Macmillan Cancer Support as Melanie Applewhaite thanked the charity for helping her to pay her bills when she had breast cancer.
Ms Applewhaite, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2017, gave high praise to Macmillan who helped her when she was no longer able to work.
She said:“After I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I found out two weeks later that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes so, in October, I went to have full lymph node removal.
“When I found out the cancer had spread, I was very scared and especially fearful that, as a single mum with two children, I might have to have chemotherapy.
“I am so grateful to Macmillan for helping me out. They sent me a donation to help me buy essential items and to pay my bills when I was unable to work.
“After six months off work your pay stops, so without them to help pay my bills, I would have been in real trouble.
“Macmillan are great, and they ask all cancer patients if they are on their own and then offer volunteers to come and see you to provide counselling and support. Everybody knows somebody who has had cancer, but some people probably are not aware of all the services Macmillan offers to help patients get through their most vulnerable time.”
Matt Spina, assistant head of Ethos and Student Life, said: “It’s great to see the students get behind such a great initiative to raise money for this vital service to the community.
“The work Macmillan does is amazing, and we are very proud to have taken part.”
