Mum battling breast cancer sets aside own struggle to host fundraiser tomorrow

Leah Pattison, who begins chemotherapy treatment next week, has organised the event at Hooton Lodge Farm on Saturday for Macmillan Cancer Support.

As part of the event, Leah (pictured) will be braving the shave and sacrificing the locks she may have lost anyway after chemo.

“I’m just trying to get on with it and I think doing the fundraiser is helping to take my mind off things,” she said.

“This event is to give a little bit back to Macmillan before they help me.”

Now aged 29, Leah, of Birdwell Road, Kilnhurst, said she had gone to see her GP after finding a lump just after Christmas.

“They referred me to the hospital and I had a biopsy,” she said.

“On March 16, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“It was a big shock at the time as I was only 28.

“I have an eight-year-old boy, Reagan, who is non-verbal autistic, and we need each other just as much.

“When I was diagnosed, I was just sat there looking at the wall and crying \_ all I could think about was my little boy.”

Leah had surgery to remove the lump and will begin chemo next Friday.

“I was a bit nervous about going through with the operation but I’ve come to terms with it more now,” she added.

“My little boy keeps me on my toes and I don’t have much time to think about it.”

Saturday’s fundraiser, beginning at noon, will feature face painting, rides, character guest appearances and inflatables, as well as raffles and other competitions and a live DJ.

Of the sponsored head shave, Leah said: “The idea is instead of cancer taking my hair away, it will be me taking it away.

“I see it as putting two fingers up to cancer.”

Friends have founded an online appeal page to help Leah with hospital travel costs, living expenses during her cancer treatment and a wig for after she loses her hair.

You can find it at https://tinyurl.com/LeahPattison.

Friend Chelsea Shaw said: “Leah is always putting someone before herself and has dedicated her life to her son. She never asks for help.

“She’s going through so much as it is and has a long road ahead. We just want to take one less stress away and raise some money so she can focus the fight she has ahead of her, and not have to worry about getting to her appointments and keeping her house warm.”