Kinross resident Christine Cranston set to rattle cancer tin for Purple Bra Day

CHRISTINE Cranston is stepping out of her comfort zone to give back to the organisation that supported her through cancer.

The Kinross resident will don purple and rattle a tin in the Perth CBD to fundraise for Breast Cancer Care WA on June 17, as part of Purple Bra Day.

Before being diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in July 2014, Mrs Cranston had planned to follow her husband and move with her children to Perth. She remained in Sydney for treatment, looking after her four children while her husband worked interstate.

“Once I heard the word cancer I didn’t take anything else in because the first thing that came to my mind was my family, my children and not seeing them grow up,” she said.

“It was just like a rollercoaster ride, everything was going so fast.”

The family moved to Perth in December that year, halfway through Mrs Cranston’s chemotherapy treatment and though she had her husband and sister-in-law, she no longer had her cancer support network.

“I felt lost; I didn’t know where to start from here,” she said.

A doctor put her in touch with Breast Cancer Care WA.

“They have helped my family and I both emotionally and financially, from helping us with our rent when we were struggling to pay medical bills, to taking our children to school when I was undergoing treatment and too sick to drive,” she said.

“They helped in making me feel better about myself. The support they give is fantastic.”

Mrs Cranston said she was looking forward to raising money for the organisation.

“This is a way I can give back to them and help them help other people,” she said.

“They really understand what people who are dealing with cancer are going through and they welcome you with open arms.”

Now in remission, she was feeling more positive and eager to restart her life.

“I see things differently now; life is short,” she said.