CLAIRE MASON

Hi I am Claire, I qualified as a mental health nurse in 1999. I am very interested in people especially wonderfully ‘different’ people. For twenty years I ran my own business offering residential rehabilitation to young adults with mental health problems. Whilst it was very rewarding it was also very draining and stressful so in 2017 I decided it was time for a change. I am now undertaking post compulsory education teacher training. I am hoping that my passion for mental health care will inspire the next generation to embark on an exciting, ever changing and interesting career. I also started training with transition fitness – whilst I am never going to like exercise they have kept me at it for over a year!

Running a business tends to be all consuming and result in a person neglecting most other aspects of their life. I was no different, and as a result, my physical and my own mental health was suffering. Compound that with my Mums diagnosis of cancer and things had started to get tough for me, the wheels were coming off. Mum diagnosis knocked our small but close family for six – to say we were utterly shell shocked and scared is an understatement. How could this happen to our strong healthy Mum? When she was diagnosed with cancer she felt physically well. It was the treatment that made her so ill.

I am taking on these challenges to motivate and inspire but to also raise money for these important charities whose work, through research and development, will improve the treatment options whilst reducing the horrendous side effects – which my Mum tolerated with such grace and dignity. I am beyond thankful and overjoyed that My Mum is well five years on. She kicked cancers butt and now I want to raise money to help cancer research develop new treatments to kick cancer butts for everyone. Cancer sucks please help me raise money to fund butt kicking! Thank you.