A BOLTON mum who has fought cancer twice is standing up to the disease – alongside her son

Julie White, aged 48, posed with a placard emblazoned with the words ‘1 in 2’, to highlight the fact that one in two people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives.

This stark statistic is what’s motivating Julie and her son Adam to join forces and support Stand Up To Cancer – a joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

They are urging men, women and children to come together, show their support and join the rebellion against cancer.

Launched in the UK in 2012, Stand Up To Cancer has already raised more than £25million to fund translational research, which takes developments in the lab and transforms them into brand new tests and treatments for cancer patients.

Julie, who lives in Little Lever and runs a gardening business with her husband, knows only too well just how crucial new discoveries and breakthroughs are to help people like her survive. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, after finding a lump in her left breast.

The mum-of-two had her breast removed before undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Julie, who is married to Lee, continued to receive regular check-ups, but was diagnosed with cancer for a second time two years ago. She once again underwent chemotherapy treatment and is now fighting fit.

Julie said: “It’s impossible to describe the shock I felt when I was told it was cancer. But I got through the treatment each time thanks to the overwhelming support of my family and friends. We want to encourage as many people as possible to join with us and stand up to this devastating disease.”

Adam, aged 16, who is about to join Bury College to study A-levels, said: “I’m so grateful for the treatment that saved my mum’s life and I’m so proud to support Stand Up To Cancer.”

Jane Bullock, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for Bolton, said: “We’d like to thank Julie and Adam for standing up to cancer with us. Julie’s experience brings home the fact that one in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lives. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. Whether it’s you or someone you know, it leaves its mark on us all.

“So the time to act is now. We’re on the brink of a revolution in cancer research - thanks to new treatments, screening and earlier diagnosis, more people are surviving the disease than ever before. But we can’t afford to stand still. It’s time to rebel against cancer, raise money and save lives. Research is our weapon against this terrible disease and we’re calling on an army of supporters to stand up to cancer and show their support.”