Meet the skin clinician giving back to the hospital that supported her during cancer treatment

Having successfully beaten breast cancer herself, an inspirational skin clinician is part of a new campaign to support cancer patients at the hospital that treated her.

Sarah Cheeney, owner of the Pure Perfection Skin Clinic in Rossett, is among a group of six volunteers powering a new care package scheme, dubbed ‘Star Box’, at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Each year, around 20,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Wales, and the ‘Star Box’ scheme is designed to provide small, luxury comforts for patients undergoing cancer treatment at the Wrexham Hospital’s Shooting Star Unit.

Backed by NHS charity Awyr Las, the group of volunteers is made up of healthcare professionals and previous patients from the unit, which cared for Cheeney, a mum-of-two, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago, at just 34 years of age.

The skin clinician from Llangollen has also vowed to donate a portion of her company’s profits to the cause, as another way to “give something back” to the hospital.

“Being told you have breast cancer is a terrifying ordeal, but I am a fighter and had to carry on, for my family and my business,” explains Cheeney. “I never ever wanted to be labelled a victim and like so many women I gathered my strength and moved on with my life. Cancer made me refocus, and you never lose that; the opportunity to be able to support Awyr Las and the Shooting Star Unit has given me fresh impetus to help others now in that situation.”

“I received a lot of support but there is even more available now and the Star Box is something I would have gained a lot of comfort from,” the skin clinician added. “It’s the small things included that will make a difference, like a pair of warm socks for when your feet become cold, a notepad to note hospital appointments, small gestures targeting the senses, the things we take for granted. I am honoured to have been asked to be part of the group taking this forward and Pure Perfection will also be donating a portion of its profits year on year to contribute to the project.”

Cheeney’s gesture follows in the footsteps of determined fundraising, including for her 40th birthday celebrations, where a fancy dress party, raffle, and coffee and cake events raised more than £2,000 for charity.

The Star Box project was co-founded by Anne Marie Humphreys, a Senior Sister on the Shooting Star Unit. It was inspired by the actions of fundraiser Grace Parry, who donated 100 ‘TREATment Bags’ to the unit after her own cancer treatment at only 19 years old. The scheme is also backed by organisations such as Mike and Jules Peters’ Love Hope Strength Foundation.

“Specialist chemotherapy nurses are fully aware that the clinical aspect of a patient’s care is paramount towards achieving a positive response to the disease process,” said Humphreys. “However, to be able to complement this with timely information, compassion and supportive gestures can make a difference to a patient undergoing treatment.”

For more on the Star Box fund or to make a donation visit awyrlas.org.uk/starbox.