Woman who lost mum and gran to cancer keeps their charity going

Danielle, who was 40, left memory boxes for Amy and her older brothers, Ben and Joe, with gifts and letters for milestones she knew she might not see, including L-plates for their driving tests and messages for birthdays and graduations.

“There was even a key when I turned 18, and it says, ‘The key to adulthood’,” Amy said.

Sylvie was 62 when she died in July 2009. Amy believes her grandmother was first diagnosed before she was born, and her mother when Amy was one. Both went into remission, but when the cancer came back they launched the charity in 2008.

Amy remembers being confused when her mother lost her hair, but said Danielle wore “funny hats” and dressed up to shield her children from the effects of her treatment.

The pair also staged dance shows to raise money, including one at the Savoy hotel in London.

“There were costumes and all these shows and pink ribbons everywhere,” Amy said. “It was almost like the scariness of breast cancer became this fun, amazing charity.”

She said she did not fully take in what had happened until years later, and going away to university brought feelings of anger. Seeing a therapist helped, she said, but grief still “comes up in the weirdest ways”.