Icing on the cake

A MUM-of-two who turned to baking to help cope with her battle against cancer, has transformed her feel-good hobby into a business.

Jessica Lewis, of Chadderton, opens her new cake and sandwich shop in Oldham town centre today after turning adversity into triumph to show an entrepreneurial spirit.

The 29-year-old’s talent for creating tempting cakes came about three years ago, as she struggled with the devastating effects of thyroid cancer.

She has now teamed with mum Dawn Mallitt (49), also of Chadderton, to form a formidable working partnership and bring The Crafty Kitchen in Lord Street to life.

They’ll serve up breakfast sandwiches from dawn, tasty bites for lunch and their creative cakes all through the day.

Jessica said: “When I had my little boy, Isaac (4), I developed cancer, and became quite depressed. I started baking cakes as something to do to distract myself, then it became a hobby. I would make them for family and friends, then I started getting orders from other people.

“It became a bit of a home-based business, and it’s stemmed from there.

“I’m fully recovered now, but the treatment was gruelling. I had to go on a low iodine diet for three weeks, then have radioactive iodine treatment at The Christie. I couldn’t see my children for a couple of weeks and it was very tough.”

Jessica said: “We’re very excited and can’t wait to get started.”

The Crafty Kitchen will be open everyday from 7.30am to 5pm.
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