Cancer-beating mum parties to aid charity
AMUM- OF- T WO who was warned she might never have children after cancer treatment, celebrated a decade in remission with a street party fundraiser.
The fun day, on Jubilee Street, Oswaldtwistle, was organised by Lisa Capstick, raising more than £1,400 for the Lymphoma Action charity.
Lisa, 39, was devastated when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in January 2008 after finding a lump on her neck.
The psychiatric nurse underwent six cycles of chemotherapy to beat the cancer, but doctors warned her the treatment could leave her infertile and then, when she became pregnant, that continuing with the pregnancy inside a year of treatment was ‘high risk’.
Ten years on she now has two daughters Olivia Swanick, eight, and Erin Swanick, six, both pupils at Hippings Methodist Primary School.
Lisa, who was single when she was undergoing treatment, recalled: “They offered me an opportunity to harvest eggs, but I was so shocked and frightened that I just wanted to get it done. I met Olivia and Erin’s dad quite soon after.
“It was classed as a high risk pregnancy and I was advised to think about having a termination.”
Paying tribute to Lymphoma Action, she said: “Their support at that time was absolutely invaluable - to have someone who was sympathetic and could answer questions.
“The lump came out of nowhere. I knew straight off it wasn’t a minor thing, it was frightening.
“The months that followed were awful – I had x-rays, scans, blood tests, you name it.”
Lisa, who has also done a triathlon and run a half marathon to fundraise, said the ‘fantastic’ street party included a raffle and tombola, face painting and a barbecue.
She said: “We do a lot on the street and I organise it all! All the kids on the street were brilliant, they all had their little jobs to do. My neighbours were amazing, everybody just jumped in.
“I’ve done a bit of fundraising for Lymphoma Action because it’s close to my heart.
“I’ve raised probably over £2,000 for them.”
Lisa, whose partner Mark Hughes is a builder, thanked kind donations for the event from Asda Accrington, Whitaker’s Butchers, Franco’s restaurant, The Plough and The Black Dog, The Civic Theatre, Oswaldtwistle Mills and others.
To donate visit justgiving.com and search for ‘Lisa Capstick’.