All hands on deck

Kelly Griffin

MOTHER-OF-THREE Kelly Griffin will go down in history when her handprints are used in the design of the new £28.5 million Manchester Cancer Research Centre.

Kelly, who lives with her family in Bardsley, was chosen as part of a band of inspirational cancer survivors and people who have lost loved ones to the disease to help make the lasting impression.

The 32-year-old’s world fell apart when doctors told her she not only had breast cancer, but it had spread to her liver.

It was on her youngest son, Noah’s third birthday that she underwent a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy.

That evening, doctors broke the devastating news that she had grade-three breast cancer and would need an intensive course of treatment.

But before the treatment began, medics discovered the cancer had spread, and on Boxing Day, 2011, she began a course of chemotherapy treatment directed at the tumours on her liver.

Kelly was treated at The Christie Hospital, and made such good progress that not only was she able to return to her work as a learning disabilities services manager, but also married her partner Steven.

In September, last year, she underwent a mastectomy, and in January this year she joined a clinical trial which involves a combination of chemotherapy and herceptin every three weeks.

Her latest scan revealed the tumours on her liver have almost disappeared.

Kelly’s handprints will be included in the design of the windows for the centre, which is being built in Withington.

Funded by Cancer Research UK, The University of Manchester and The Christie, it is set to revolutionise cancer treatment in the North-West.

Fund-raisers still have to rake in a huge £6 million to complete the centre and are appealing to Chronicle readers to help them hit the target.

For details on how you can help the fund-raisers, visit www.moretomorrows .org.
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