Stacey celebrates 10th year of opening salon inspired by cancer fight
SHE GOT ALL-CLEAR IN 2OO9 AND THEN OPENED SAFERSUN SPRAY TANNING, IN STATION STREET
A BURTON woman is celebrating a decade running a business inspired by her battle with cancer
Stacey Pickess was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2006 when she was just 24, but it was spotted at an early stage.
She was diagnosed at Queen’s Hospital, in Burton and had to have a skin graft operation at Selly Oak Hospital, in Birmingham.
After going through regular checkups, she was cleared of the cancer in 2009 and opened her own business, Safersun Spray Tanning in Station Street in 2010.
She is now celebrating a decade of success after running the business she started to offer safer tanning in the hope others would not have to go through what she did.
The 38-year-old said: “I noticed a dark mole on my right leg and didn’t think too much into it.
“However, at Christmas I was at my family’s house and, when I fell asleep on the sofa, a family member spotted the mole and told me to go and get it checked.
“Thankfully I got checked at the right time and was called in for an emergency skin graft operation.
“During that time I was supported massively by my friends and family, especially my partner, Luke, who
I’ve been with for 22 it
I remain upbeat at all times and I feel that helped me a lot and gave me the strength to open my own business. Stacey Pickess
years, and that helped me get through a very difficult time.
“I have a very positive attitude and remain upbeat at all times and I feel that helped me a lot and gave me the strength to go on and open my own business.
“Because of what happened to me, I promote spray tans as an alternative to sun tans as it’s not as dangerous and gives you the same result.
“The business has kept me going and given me something to be focused for.
“I’ve bought the place next door to my shop and will be expanding into a bigger shop very soon.
“I currently employ five staff members, who all live in Burton, and I hope to create more jobs for people once the extension has been complete.”