2:23pm Wednesday 29th August 2007
By Graham Moody
As leader of the Croydon and New Addington branch of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Ayshea Stacey, has become a figurehead for beating the disease in the borough.
From pink parties to 60k walks, she has organised or taken part in event after event raising thousands of pounds along the way to fight the disease which killed her grandmother two years ago.
She said: "I lost my nan to breast cancer in 2005. She raised me after my mum left when I was four and was a fantastic and strong person who made me what I am. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't be anything.
"I cared for her at home when she had the cancer with a lot of support from the outreach nurses at St Christopher's Hospice."
Ayshea, who lives in North Walk, New Addington, is passionate about defeating the disease and believes more people should be made aware of its dangers.
"Cancer is worldwide and it doesn't mind who it gets," the 33-year-old said. "My aim is to get everyone thinking about breast cancer and doing something about it. The more people that read about how dangerous it can be and see the events we do to help the fight against it, the better."
Ayshea, who has four daughters, has organised a sponsored swim, a car wash and a party where everyone wore pink. But it is the £8,000 she raised through two sponsored walks that really make her stand out.
"Last year I took part in a 60k walk and raised £3,000 in sponsorship - double the amount needed to enter," Ayshea said. "So far this year we have raised £5,000 and on September 8 six of us will be taking part in the 44k Aviva Walk London to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. We each have to raise £5,000 in sponsorship so that means together we will generate at least £30,000 to help towards the fight."
Ayshea is also helped by the Addington Community Association (ACA) in Central Parade.
"Their secretary Gill Trowler pays for us to have a stall at the market at the community centre every Thursday, for which we are very thankful," she added.
Ayshea has scheduled another pink party at the ACA on September 15. Balloons with messages to lost loved ones will be released during the event.
If you want to put a message on a balloon, email Ayshea at aysheastacey@msn.com
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