HEIDI Hunter has been recognised as an inspiration to her community thanks to her resilient attitude and positive views towards life.
The 45-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago, and since then she has been intent on not giving herself a day off to worry about it.
Heidi, of Highgate Lane, Goldthorpe, is determined to keep going and not let anything get her down despite her cancer diagnosis and divides her time between working at the Rotherham Hospice and taking care of her son, Jacob, who suffers from cerebral palsy and autism, which is why she has been nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award.
She said: “You just have to get on with life, to me you can’t let a diagnosis stop you, you have to live and work with it. I’m always really active because I am either at work or looking after my 18-year-old son Jacob, he really keeps me going.”
Despite living with cancer, this has not put Heidi off her job at the hospice where she works as part of the lottery fundraising team, which sees her doing everything from supporting previous patients to fundraising for the charity.
“It’s the best job in the world, cancer is really close to my heart so I feel that I can really help our patients - I really do love it,” said Heidi.
“It’s a great place to work, as soon as you walk into the hospice you feel at peace, people think it’s a place where you go to die but it’s not, it’s a place to live, somewhere you can relax.”
Heidi is dedicated to taking care of and improving the life of her son Jacob. She was originally told he may never walk or talk and that he could be blind. But he has now passed nine exams, goes to a mainstream college and works as a volunteer for the charity Barnardo’s.
“I’m so shocked that I have been nominated for this award, I don’t see myself as an inspiration but just as a normal person, it’s looking after Jacob and working at the hospice that really gives me the strength to carry on.
“At the minute I’ve lost my hair due to chemotherapy and I’m having to wear a wig, but I won’t let it upset me, people just keep asking if I’ve had a new haircut but when I explain they’re shocked because I don’t look ill.”
Heidi sees herself as extremely lucky because she hasn’t experienced many symptoms from her chemotherapy.
“I look at cancer in a different way to most. When I started my chemotherapy there were 19 different types of chemo you could have, I saw that as having 19 lives. If one doesn’t work then I will keep trying and I know I will beat it. Now there’s 27 different types, so that’s even more lives - I know that I’m going to beat it.
“I just live for tomorrow, I’d tell anyone with cancer the same thing, just carry on and don’t shut yourself off from the world, don’t be afraid to talk to people because you will win.”
Heidi was nominated by Grace Wilmer, she said: “This lady absolutely amazes me, she is a lovely person who would do anything for anyone and she is a fantastic mum to Jacob.
“I hope Heidi wins an award because in my opinion she definitely deserves it, she never moans and she always sees the bright side to everything.”
