A woman from Arrington who is in remission from cancer after undergoing gruelling rounds of chemotheraphy and a bone marrow transplant has been raising money for the hospital which saved her life.
Joanne Smith has been fundraising in aid of haematologist Dr George Follows’ Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research Fund, and the new chemotheraphy and haematology E10 ward at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge after she was a diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2012.
She said: “It’s important for me to raise this money because I was given a second chance – and if I can help one other person be able to have their chance, then that’s something positive to focus on.”
After her diagnosis, Joanne went through rounds of treatment and was told she was in remission – but two years later the cancer returned and she needed more chemotheraphy and a bone marrow transplant.
Now on the road to recovery, Joanne has thrown a coffee morning at Arrington Village Hall – which raised £700 for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, the fundraising charity for the hospital.
She said: “A massive thank you to everyone who came along, all the kind donations were greatly received.
“We would have never have been able to do it without the incredible cake donations and help from everyone. And a huge thank you to Starbucks at Baldock Services for donating all the coffee, milk, cups, sugars and stirrers.”
Joanne – who has been married to husband Gary for 30 years – used to run Arrington Garden Centre, but they sold the business when Joanne became ill so she could focus on recovery.
She now has her sights on going the distance at the Great North Run in September, with family and friends to help her along the 13.1-mile route.
She said: “I have wanted to do the Great North Run for some time, to have my daughters Emma and Lucy with me, and my good friends Yvonne and her husband David – to have them there too will be great, they are getting me through it.
“When was told I had the opportunity to do this I had just had the transplant and could barely walk 100 yards, so it was no race for a time but a major challenge.
“In doing so I want to raise money for Addenbrooke’s as massive thank you for all their support and care over the past five years.
“I think people realise going through all this is awful, but there is hope – a light at the end of the tunnel.”
To donate to Joanne’s cause go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/smithsrunning.
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