St George’s secretary celebrates 10 year ‘cancerversary’!
Debbi Ashley, 61, who works as a medical secretary at St George’s, will be taking to the catwalk at the annual Breast Cancer Care Show – ten years after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Debbi, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, will be sharing the stage with 31 other people, who have also been diagnosed and were selected out of hundreds of applicants.
Debbi said: “In June 2009 my world was rocked by a breast cancer diagnosis. I then had a mastectomy followed by 6 rounds of chemotherapy and then 5 weeks of radiotherapy, the effects of which still affect me today. My last radiotherapy session was the day before Christmas Eve 2009 and I got the all clear in January 2010.
“In August 2011 I had reconstruction surgery and although, physically I was now looking more regular, I struggled to return to normal mentally but with the help of my friends and family and Breast Cancer Care I have somehow managed to slowly put my life back together. Last year saw me skid into my 60’s and I feel I have finally got my “happy” back, I now look at my scars and see a victory and that they tell a story. My 4 beautiful children were and still are my heroes, without them I very much doubt I would be where I am today.
“I’m so excited to take part in The Show as this year is my 10 year cancerversary and I can’t wait to step onto the catwalk (I hope to stay upright!) in front of my friends and family and show everyone that a breast cancer diagnosis won’t stop you looking and feeling great.”
The fashion show event kick-starts Breast Cancer Awareness Month and takes place at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel on Thursday 3 October.
The models will be transformed from head-to-toe before hitting the runway, wearing a range of outfits professionally styled by fashion director and stylist Hilary Alexander OBE.
As well as the catwalk, there will be fine dining, fundraising games, auctions and entertainment. Breast Cancer Care aims to raise over £300,000 from the event, which it says will enable the charity to continue to provide care, support and information, for free, to anyone affected by breast cancer, as well as vital breast cancer research.
To support Debbi, visit her JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/deborah-ashley1
To purchase tickets for the Breast Cancer Care Show visit: www.breastcancercare.org.uk/theshowlondon
Notes to editors
For press enquiries, please contact Sophia Alipour, Media Officer, via sophia.alipour@stgeorges.nhs.uk or 020 8725 2185.
