THE “phenomenal courage” of breast cancer survivor Hilary Richards has been an inspiration to the people who know her.
So much so that two of her colleagues decided to run 36-miles in just one day from the Wrexham store where they work to its sister stores in Chester and Liverpool to raise money for Breast Cancer Campaign.
Hilary, who lives in Rossett, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 1999 which came as a huge shock to her and her family.
She is now fully recovered and it is her determination that inspired colleagues Owen Ward and Dave Matthews, together with Owen’s best friend Andy Birch, to run from the Wrexham branch of Debenhams in Eagles Meadow where they work to the company’s stores in Chester and Liverpool.
Hilary was delighted to welcome them back after their mega run – the equivalent of a marathon and 10 miles extra – and to discover that they had raised almost £1,000 for the Breast Cancer Campaign.
She said: “I’m very pleased that Owen, Dave and Andy have done the Three Stores run – they’re wonderful, they’re my heroes because they’re raising money and raising the profile of Breast Cancer Campaign.”
Hilary works in the lingerie department at Debenhams where she is able to advise other women who are experiencing breast cancer themselves.
She continued: “I had an aggressive form of breast cancer about 10 years ago. My husband, Lindsay, was devastated. It was a terrible shock to him and my son, Elliot, who was doing his A levels at the time.
“I had chemotherapy and a mastectomy, the whole thing ,and now I have been given the all clear.
“When I was first diagnosed, though, we were numb because I had deluded myself thinking that it was nothing.
“It wasn’t until I’d actually had the mastectomy that I got positive. I had a single mastectomy and lymph gland removal – then I started looking forward quickly to reconstruction and that went okay.
“As soon as I’d had my mastectomy we became quite positive. We thought the ‘cancer’s gone. I’ve had it removed so let’s try now and get the best chemotherapy that we can. Let’s hit it hard like the Americans do and then move forward.
“Debenhams have been absolutely fabulous. They suggested working in the lingerie department and I said it would be absolutely perfect for me.
“I’m able to give women advice because I’ve been through it myself. There’s nothing like going through it to know what these other ladies want.
“I can give advice not just on bras, but on their general wellbeing and saying to them ‘come on, you'll get through it’.
“You have to look forward, you have to have goals in life and you have to have things to look forward to.”
Her three colleagues had some running experience – Owen, 36, a supervisor in the home department, had run the Edinburgh marathon with Andy while Dave was a decent cross country runner in school – but this was a challenge of a whole different order.
Owen said: “It was even harder than I thought it would be but the three of us started and we all finished.
“Dave was really suffering. He had blisters you wouldn’t believe and his left foot was caked in blood, but he showed a lot of courage and it was the bravery of Hilary that kept us going.
“It was stunning going across the Mersey on the ferry and seeing the skyline of Liverpool and the generosity of people was fantastic.
“We had a whipround at the stores in Chester and Liverpool and it was amazing – people were just throwing cash in.
“Everyone talks about how horrific breast cancer is so I started looking into it and the statistics are frightening – one in nine women is diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.”
As they set off from Eagle’s Meadow the three we’re cheered by crowds of shoppers who also donated money to the cause.
Kevin Critchley, manager of the Wrexham shopping complex, said: “I take my hat off to them because this was a huge challenge.
“Hilary is a fantastic lady and I can think of no better cause to support. I’m delighted so many people turned out to wave them off and also dug deep in their pockets.”
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For more information on the Breast Cancer Campaign visit www.breastcancercampaign.org