Family takes to the skies to thank trust

Christine Procter, 47, and her children Vanessa, 17 and James, 16, (pictured)took the bold step of skydiving in thanks for the care Christine received at the unit while undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

The family took to the skies five years almost to the day since Christine was given the all-clear.

She said: “Last year I did a parasail while on holiday and my son and James said I should do a sky dive to mark my five years of being cancer free. I told him no chance, but he persuaded me. Now I’d do it again, it was an amazing experience.

“I’m so pleased I’ve been able to do this for the breast care consultant, Mr Kiri, breast care nurse Sarah Guilfoyle and everyone else who has continued to look after me while I’ve been a patient at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.”

Christine, who lives with her children and her husband Steven and other daughter Faye, 24, in Lea Town, Preston, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. She had her final round of chemotherapy at the beginning of September, and was given the all-clear on September 23 that year – just one week before her birthday.

Vanessa said: “Doing the sky dive was the best thing I’ve ever done. I’d definitely do it again.”

The family has raised a total of £1,146 through sponsorship for their sky dive, which has been presented to Blue Skies Hospitals Fund, the charity for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Head of fund-raising and voluntary services, Caroline Scholz, said: “We are very pleased that Christine has been able to mark five years of being cancer-free, and
that she has chosen to support the Breast Care Centre in this way.

“This money will go a long way in helping people like Christine who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are receiving treatment.”