A mum who battled cancer and beat the odds to have a second child is raising money for a charity at the weekend.

Cheryl Clark, of Hilversum Way, Canvey, is taking part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life this Sunday at Garon Park, Eastern Avenue, Southend.

Her life was turned upside down just after her 30th birthday when she was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkins Lymphoma – an advanced form of the disease which had spread from her neck to her stomach.

Cheryl, 37, said: “I found a lump on June 15, 2003. It was just like a little marble on the base of my neck.

“I went to the doctors the next day and he sent me for a blood test. When it came back clear he sent me to see a consultant and they did a biopsy. That came back as Hodgkins.

“I was shocked when they said it was stage three – there are only four stages.

“I felt perfectly well. Six weeks before that I had my 30th birthday party. I had Aaron who was 18-months-old, we were planning a holiday and life was great.

“As soon as you hear the word cancer you can’t think of anything else. Your whole world seems to implode.”

Cheryl’s plans had to be put on hold as she underwent a gruelling eight months of chemotherapy to treat the illness. She underwent five hours of treatment every two weeks using combinations of different drugs.

She said: “From when I found the lump to the diagnosis was three weeks. You feel so well and then the treatment makes you feel so terrible.

“My little boy was 18 months old, which was good in a way because it forced me to get up and do things as I wanted to keep things as normal as possible. I didn’t have time to sit around and feel sorry for myself.

“I started treatment at the end of July and by January it had reduced by 90 per cent.

“I went into remission in March 2004.”

Doctors had warned Cheryl not to try for another baby for a year after her treatment to allow her body to recover from the harsh chemicals.

Two years after her treatment she fell pregnant with her second son, Joshua, who is now four.

Cheryl said she felt inspired to take part in the Race for Life after looking for information about Hodgkins Lymphoma using the Cancer Research UK website.

She said: “A lot of people do it in memory of other people. My best friend’s mum died of cancer, so we are doing it for her, but also because the chances of surviving are a lot higher than they were.

“I never would have been able to have another child 15 or 20 years ago, but the fact that all of these drugs have improved so much means your life can revert to almost normal.

“It feels a bit surreal looking back, but when you are going through it, you have your head down just dealing with it.”