Northumberland breast cancer survivor to raise vital funds with charity yoga event

Debrah Dhugga, founder of Soni Yoga & Wellness in Morpeth, is organising a Wear It Pink charity wellness evening in support of Breast Cancer Now.

Thanks to the help of her best friend and fellow yoga teacher, Christine Heslop, the event will see more than 50 women gather on Friday, October 23 at the Holiday Inn Newcastle Gosforth Park.

The evening will bring together women of different ages, backgrounds and experiences for restorative yoga, mindful breathing, deep relaxation and a beautiful sound journey.

Having faced stage three breast cancer and undergone multiple operations, Deborah understands how a diagnosis can turn someone's world upside down.

With specialist training in yoga for breast cancer, Deborah supports her yogis through gentle movement, breathing techniques, relaxation and the emotional challenges that can accompany a cancer diagnosis and recovery.

"When you hear the words cancer, your world changes in an instant,” she said. “Suddenly, the things you once worried about seem so insignificant.

"You find yourself facing appointments, surgery, treatment and an uncertainty about the future that is difficult to explain unless you have experienced it.

"There are moments when you have to find strength you never knew you had.

"I feel incredibly grateful to be here today, doing something I love and hopefully making a difference to other people's lives.”

One of the most important messages behind the fundraising event is the need for greater breast awareness.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer affecting women in the UK, with over 400 men in the UK also being diagnosed each year.

Debrah wants to encourage everyone to become familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel, and seek medical advice promptly if they notice anything unusual.

She said: "As women, we spend so much of our lives looking after everyone else. Our children, our families, our parents, our friends. We are often the last people on our own list.

"But taking a few moments to check your breasts is not something we should put off.

"You do not have to wait until you find a lump. Breast cancer can present itself in different ways, and understanding what is normal for your body is so important.”