TWO friends who met as students at St Crispin’s School are planning a special day to treat women with breast cancer – after one of them was diagnosed with the disease.
Make-up artist and hairdresser Michelle Blackman, 30, who now lives in Bracknell, was devastated when she discovered her best friend Kim Feast, 31, of Yateley, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in October 2014, and vowed to do everything she could to help.
Michelle said: “Having to watch my friend go through breast cancer, especially at such a young age, has been really tough, so I just wanted to give something back.
“I have organised a pamper day on July 13 at Trunkwell House, in Beech Hill, for six women of all ages who have survived breast cancer, or who are going through treatment now.
“When you are diagnosed with cancer, all you focus on is surviving, and everything else falls by the wayside. A lot of women say that losing their hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, leaves them feeling ‘unfeminine’, so I wanted to give them a day where they could feel beautiful again.”
Mum-of-two Kim, who has finished chemotherapy and is now receiving radiotherapy, said: “I found loads of support online, there is a Facebook group called Young Breast Cancer Network where women can just go and talk about their worries, their treatment, or just to vent, and there will always be someone there to listen.
“I’m so happy that Michelle wanted to help and raise awareness of not only breast cancer in younger women, but of the support group. She is a great make-up artist and hairdresser so she is putting her skills to really good use.”
Michelle said: “The day will be really special, we will have wedding dresses loaned from Confetti Bridal Centre in Wokingham for the ladies to wear, they will have their hair and make-up done, and we have a professional photographer coming to take the pictures and a local florist to provide the flowers. Afterwards they will have a champagne afternoon tea where they can relax and take in the surroundings, and later on we will be inviting their nearest and dearest for a fundraising event in the evening where we will hopefully raise lots of money for Breast Cancer Care as well as raising awareness of the Facebook group, www.facebook.com/YoungerBreastCancerNetwork.”
To find ut more about Michelle’s pamper day, and to donate to Breast Cancer Care visit www.justgiving.com/Michelle-Blackman.
