A MOTHER-OF-TWO who finished her radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer only weeks ago is determined to defy the disease by taking part in a charity hike.

Claire Maguire, of Thirsk, has signed up to take part in Breast Cancer Care’s Pink Ribbon Walk at Harewood House, near Leeds, on June 5.

Claire, 38, who is still waiting to find out if the cancer has gone, said she wanted to complete the challenge to prove to her mother that there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

Claire’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer only four months after she received her own diagnosis in May last year – and is undergoing radiotherapy treatment now.

Claire said: “My mum looks to me and if I can show her there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that you can feel better, it will give her hope while she’s going through the treatment and feeling so terrible.

“I also want to do it for my daughters. The past year has been very, very tough. It has been horrible and my children have had a really hard time.

“They’ve watched their mummy going bald, growing fat, sleeping and being sick and now I want to show my girls that I’m better. I don’t want them thinking that mummy’s always poorly.”

Claire, who will return to her job as a life coach later this month, said she hoped to raise £1,000 for Breast Cancer Care, which has been a huge support to her during her illness.

She said: “The charity has a book called Mummy’s Lump, which I used to help me explain to my children about my condition.

“I also found their online forum really helpful. I used to read what other people were going through because it helped me to feel more normal and gave me the feeling that I wasn’t alone.”

Claire, who has two daughters, aged six and eight, will be striding out on the ten-mile hike with five other mums from their school, Cundall Manor, who have called themselves the Polka Dot Ladies.

Women and men from across North Yorkshire are being encouraged to sign up to the Pink Ribbonwalk, which has a ten-mile and 20-mile option.

For more information, log on to breastcancercare.org.uk. To sponsor Claire, visit her online fundraising page, justgiving.com/polka-dot-ladies