A PROBATION worker recovering from cancer has praised her friend for taking on five fearsome challenges to help raise cash for cancer research.

Vicky Noble, from Ramsbottom, finished her final course of chemotherapy at the beginning of September, underwent a bilateral mastectomy in October and completed radiotherapy treatment in December.

Friend Danielle Buckley, who attended all of Vicky’s consultations, has already completed the Manchester Half Marathon in October and a mountainous 10k event in November.

Before September 2017 she aims to complete a marathon, a Total Warrior event and a quadrathon – with every penny raised by her fundraising efforts going to the Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

Vicky, a senior case manager based at the Cheshire & Greater Manchester Community Rehabilitation Company’s Bury office, is now recovering and her prognosis looks good.

She said Danielle, whom she has known since the pair worked together in the office in Castlecroft Road, was “bonkers” for taking on such arduous challenges, but added she was very thankful.

Vicky said: “I’m thrilled by what Danielle’s doing to raise money for the Christie.

“I took Danielle with me because during consultation it’s very easy to miss key points.

“Danielle is exceptional at compartmentalising her own feelings and thinking clearly during emotional moments – I think that’s a skill working in probation can give you – and I found her support a tremendous source of strength.”

Danielle, who now works as an acting community director based in Wigan, described Vicky as an inspiration.

The 37-year-old said: “To see her fight has been harrowing and humbling in equal measure.

"Vicky is stunning, and her hair was simply gorgeous. She asked me to do the honours with the clippers and it was hard.

"But she also makes a beautiful baldy and I am so proud of her.

"I felt useless as a spectator. That’s why I’m undertaking five challenges because Vicky’s battle will be 11 months, so I wanted to do something which would be tough and span over a similar period.

"The Christie’s is so good, it’s the best cancer hospital in Europe.”

Vicky hopes her pal’s feats will raise awareness of breast cancer, not just money.

She said: “Chemotherapy is horrible. It made me feel sick and exhausted, but the hardest part of chemo was the effect on my appearance.

"I lost my hair, eyelashes and eyebrows and gained weight because of the medication that accompanies it.

“It sounds vain, but I now know this is common among younger women with breast cancer, the impact on your appearance and your self-esteem is very tough to deal with.

"I have responded well to treatment so far and my prognosis is positive right now. Not everyone is that lucky.”

Danielle’s fundraising page can be found at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Danielle-Buckley1