A Shenfield woman who has battled breast cancer twice, will be competing in a fencing European championship next week – exactly a year after being diagnosed with the disease.

In June 2010, Mariette Mason, 54, was diagnosed with cancer the same week she learnt she was being made redundant from her job. It was 21 years on from the first time she had had the disease.

Chemotherapy

Next week she will return to competitive fencing, at the European Veterans Championships in France.

Before being treated for the disease, she had represented England three times in the Veterans Home Championship and was ranked 60th in the UK rankings.

Her treatment over the past year included a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy – but at no point did give up on her ambitions.

Her husband David Worsfold said: “There were many days when it was almost impossible to drag herself out of bed but she refused to let go of her dream of competing in these championships and found the motivation to carry on with her training.”

Refuge

She was treated at St Bartholomew’s (Bart’s) Hospital in London, and is hoping to use sponsorship from her fencing trip to raise funds for the hospital and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Mariette said: “The centre and its staff represented many things during the long months of treatment. It was a source of invaluable advice, sensitive support, guidance and comfort. Often it was simply a refuge, not just for me but also for my family.

“Competing in the championships and in doing so raising money for these two fantastic organisations is a way of saying a very sincere thank you.”

To help Mariette raise money visit: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/mariettemason.