But former Trimdon woman Pat Procter and her fellow charity fundraisers face a race against time to complete the haven for young cancer sufferers.

TRACY WALKER reports.



PAT Procter has been given a new lease of life.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago when she was aged 38.
She had reconstructive surgery two years later. That's when it dawned on her that life was for living.

Pat, who is originally from Trimdon but now lives in Plaka, near the city of Chania in Crete, said: "I was 38 when I was diagnosed. At that age you don't usually think about it. Fifteen years ago there wasn't really that much awareness of the disease.

"The doctor said 'you've got to go to the hospital and get this lump checked out'."

Tests found Pat had a tumour in one breast and a cyst in the other.
"It was a huge shock," she said.

"At the time, I was going through a divorce and had young children. It was just one of the worst periods of my life."

The former Trimdon Parish Councillor, holiday company worker and temp said she was positive from the outset and within months she had a mastectomy.

Within two years, she had reconstructive surgery at St James' Hospital in Leeds and she met and married her new husband, jazz musician Jim after she met him at a function in Trimdon.

She moved to live with Jim at his home in Darlington and started to re-evaluate her life.

After some careful consideration, she and her husband Jim upped sticks and moved to Goa in India in 2003.

But last year, they decided to move to the Greek island of Crete after falling in love with the place while on a holiday.

Pat said: "You try and look at life differently. You realise how great your life could be.

"I was in a position where I could think about moving abroad.
"The lifestyle in Crete is much easier and cheaper and I can choose what I want to do here. We decided to head for the sun and everything it could offer.

"We were at a Christmas party talking about selling up and someone said 'What are you waiting for?' I said 'I honestly don't know'."

Pat and Jim's move to Crete last year meant they could be closer to their three grandchildren and Pat's sons Lee Hutchinson, 32, and Daniel Hutchinson, 26.

Now, as a member of the Sara's Hope Foundation, a charity set up by parents of the late Sara Hoburn, she is helping to build a retreat for sufferers of cancer aged from birth to 16.

Sara died from colon cancer, aged 16 in 2001.

Pat met Sara's parents Julie and Ged Hoburn, from Whitley Bay, while she was working as a freelance property developer and Ged and Julie were looking to buy a property to use as a holiday home for young cancer sufferers.

But although the charity has raised £30,000, another £144,000 is needed to secure the land.

The landlord has given them nine months breathing space to raise the money.

Ged and Julie, who appeared on TV's A Place In The Sun when they bought a holiday home on the island, are organising various fundraising events in North-East England while Pat is trying to open a bank account for the charity in Crete.

Pat, 53, said: "I feel as though I'm here for a purpose. I bumped into Ged and Julie and they told me about their dream of building the retreat. It really touched my heart.

"I could relate to them. I was an adult that had cancer but it must have really affected them as parents of a young child sufferer.

"I thought this is what I want to do, this is what I want to be involved in. I don't believe in coincidences but you could say it was fate that we met. It's just very positive. I can't wait to get going."

Pat also has parents, former Easington District Council chairman George Martin, mum Hannah and brother Robert Martin still living in Trimdon.

She jets back to see them a couple of times a year and still has the occasional check-up at the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

She said: "Crete is definitely our long-term home. We had a holiday here and on our first day we were looking for somewhere to rent.

"It makes a big difference in the sunshine. You can get out and about and feel the warmth on your bones. I'm sure that's a big key to getting fit and healthy."

The charity hopes to fly their first family into the retreat in May 2010, and it will cater for children from all over North East England.

"The smiles on the children's faces, that's what I'm looking forward to," said Pat.

Anyone wanting to donate or sponsor the foundation can find out more by contacting the Hoburns on (0191) 2532948.