A SOUTH Lakeland mum-of-two is showing her star quality by stepping out in support of families affected by cancer.

Sarah Abbott, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, is lacing up her trainers ahead of the eighth annual CancerCare StarWalk on April 26, and is urging others to join her.

The 47-year-old, of Staveley, said: “The unique thing about the StarWalk is that it welcomes men, women and children to take part which isn’t the case with some other charity night walks. Cancer can affect us all regardless of age or gender.”

CancerCare, which has Kendal and Lancaster centres, support local people like Mrs Abbott whose lives are affected by cancer, as well as their families, carers and anyone who has been bereaved by cancer.

They offer a wide range of free professional support services delivered by experienced and qualified staff including hypnotherapy, creative art therapies and exercise classes, as well as a dedicated Children and Young People’s Service for children as young as three.

Mrs Abbott said: “CancerCare offered me professional counselling and aromatherapy massage sessions which made me feel so much better especially when I felt really poorly after chemotherapy.

“And they helped my husband too. He had hypnotherapy sessions to help him sleep better and cope better with all the worry and stress. The way I look at it is that the NHS took care of the cancer but CancerCare looked after the rest of me and my family. The support they gave us was just as important.”

She added: “That’s why I’m doing the StarWalk because I want to give something back to them – I don’t know what I would have done without them.

“I’m fundraising with a couple of friends this year for the StarWalk and I would like to encourage other people to sign up and do the same. I took part last year and the atmosphere on the night is really magic. Being able to take part as a family is also really special for us.”

This year’s StarWalk starts at Lakes Leisure, Kendal, at 9pm, and participants can choose to run, walk or jog the 15km route.

To register visit the website www.starwalk.org or for more information call 01524 381 820 or email tct@cancercare.org.uk.