A FELL walker's life was turned upside down after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.

Within two weeks of receiving the news, Jacqueline Hardaker was forced to hang up her walking boots, cancel a dream trip to the Himalayas and undergo major surgery to remove one of her breasts and lymph nodes.

But after extensive rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, the 63-year-old is now on the mend and will be putting her best foot forward to take on CancerCare's15km StarWalk event in Kendal on May 9.

"All my treatment is finished now although I still have to take daily medication for the next five years," said Jacqueline, from Staveley.

"I do feel much more tired than I used to and my immunity is really low. Of course I have really dark days and I do find it a real struggle to even get out of my armchair sometimes. However, it’s so important to set yourself goals."

Jacqueline was diagnosed in 2013 and battled bravely for 16 months during the gruelling treatment.

“Instead of flying out to Nepal to start a very special trekking holiday I found myself at the start of what turned out to be the hardest 16 months of my life," she said.

However she was determined to not let cancer get in her way.

“After my diagnosis I thought that if I kept my fitness levels up during and after my treatment then I’d be in with a fighting chance of getting through it," she explained. "In fact, three days after my surgery I was out on Scout Scar - I felt like nothing would stop me."

But when Jacqueline started chemotherapy treatment she soon realised she had underestimated the impact it would have on her health.

“Chemotherapy was so difficult," she said. "I had no energy some days which was hugely frustrating for someone as active as me.

“But somehow I got through it and still managed to drag myself out on the hills. I remember being out on Haystacks in Buttermere and pulling out masses of clumps of hair from my head and apologising out loud to Wainwright for making such a mess."

Jacqueline’s nurse suggested getting in touch with CancerCare, on Blackhall Road, Kendal, to help her through her ordeal.

They offered her free services including hypnotherapy, Alexander Technique and aromatherapy massage and also put her in touch with a local support group.

“I’ve met lots of new people through CancerCare - just being able to talk to other people who have lived through the same experiences as me has been really inspiring," she added.

“CancerCare offer fantastic services but I was really shocked to hear that they hardly get any Government funding so doing the StarWalk will be my way of giving something back."

Visit www.justgiving.com/Jacqueline-Hardaker to sponsor.