Slimming World team join Relay for Life and raise essential funds for Cancer Research UK

FOURTEEN years ago, aged just 28 and with two young children, Slimming World consultant Helen Hyder discovered a lump in her breast after loosing weight.

Immediately seeking help from the GP, Helen was told not to worry - it was probably just a cyst. Nonetheless, she was referred to Stepping Hill Hospital for confirmation. It turned out to be cancer.

Helen said: “Being 28, it’s the last thing you expect, I had breast fed my kids which is said to help reduce the risk of cancer. I was mortified. I thought I was going to die and not be able to see my children grow up”

After the treatment, then chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Helen was referred to St Mary’s Hospital to find out if her cancer was hereditory.

Helen said: “As far as my family knew there was no breast cancer in the family.”

After a blood test and some searching through the medical history of the family, it turned out that Helen’s great grandmother on her father’s side had once breast cancer.

Helen said: ”I am so thankful to all the medical proffesionals that have helped me, but without the research over the years into breast cancer, my life and that of my famil, could have being very different.”

Helen and some of her collegues and members heard about the 24 hour Relay for Life which is now in it’s tenth year in Stockport.

This event raises funds for Cancer Research UK, for their continued research into cancer. They decided to put a team together.

Slimming World Hazel Grove, Marple and Shaw Heath and Slimming World Bramhall were the team names.

Helen said: “Cancer has touched all our lives and we wanted to give something for the continued development into the research.

Fifteen team members were registered and it was a family and friends affair.

“It was a fantastic day. Everyone young and old had a ball. We relayed the track at Kingsway School for the whole 24 hours.

“We were told that for breast cancer the survival rate is now three out of four people but there is is still so much work to do in other cancers such as lung and brain.

“Having a healthy lifestyle, stopping smoking, being active and losing weight are all things that can help you prevent cancer.”

“Losing weight bit without ever going hungry and encouraging people to become more active is what we do at Slimming World,” said team captain Maria from two of the Hazel Grove groups.

“All the survivors at the Relay were so inspirational and we’d love to help more people reduce their own risk of having to become a survivor too.

“I would like to invite anyone wanting to lose weight along to any Slimming World group knowing that they will get full support from their consultant and the group. Their weight will never be disclosed to anyone other than themselves and they can even pick their own target. Losing just 10 per cent of your body weight can help reduce the risk of cancer.”

Helen, Maria and the rest of the team have already said they will be taking part in next years Relay for Life.

Claire, the new Slimming World consultant at St. Albans in Offerton will also be joining the gang and they are hoping to beat the £1000 that they raised this year.