A CARDENDEN woman who fought off a rare cancer has raised more than £14,000 for the service that treated her.

Helen Butchart (54), of Bluebell Gardens, Dundonald, was diagnosed with maxillary sinus cancer earlier this year and lost an eye as part of a gruelling operation which saw part of her shoulder blade removed to create a new cheekbone.

Since recovering, she has been determined to put on events to raise money for the team who helped her through her treatment. On Sunday, she took part in a sponsored walk around the Loch Leven Heritage Trail and is now celebrating already smashing her £10,000 target.

“There must have been over 100 people who appeared and there were quite a lot of spectators too,” she said. “It was lovely to see everyone taking part.

“There is still sponsor money to be collected but I think we’re going to at least get double the target. It’s amazing.” For Helen, who runs Fife Flowers in Lochgelly, the support of local people as well as friends and family has been special.

“It was quite emotional,” she said. “Small communities like Cardenden, a lot is said about them but they all pull together and there is a great community spirit. It’s not just Cardenden, I get a lot of support from surrounding areas like Lochgelly and Ballingry too.

“The travellers community helped as well and gave over £280. I didn’t even know them but they took the sponsor sheet away and dug deep. I was quite touched by that.” In May, the Times told you how Helen was diagnosed with the rare cancer after visiting the dentist with swelling on the right side of her face. After having three teeth removed, two dental x-rays and five courses of antibiotics, she was referred to Queen Margaret Hospital for further investigation.

Scans and a biopsy showed she had a rare, aggressive form of cancer which had eaten into her right cheekbone, right eye and palate.

In February, Helen was referred to a team at Glasgow’s Southern General who carried out a life-changing operation that lasted 22 hours and saw her right eye removed and a new cheekbone created from her own shoulder blade.

After her treatment, Helen, along with husband John, decided that they would raise money for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s endowment fund which pays for extra equipment, research, training and patient comfort. The £10,000 was already smashed before the sponsored walk on Sunday, when people of all ages turned out in support.

The route around Loch Leven stretched for seven miles, from the pier to the log cabins, and Helen was pleased that it was accessible to everyone.

“A couple of the girls even trained up and did it twice!” she said. “The weather held up fine, it was actually beautiful. It was cool in the morning but we had perfect walking conditions.

“The lodge does food and put on a special price for a drink and a roll, which was very kind, and we went back to the Railway Tavern in Cardenden for sandwiches and soup.” If you would like to contribute to Helen’s fund-raising then please visit www.justgiving.com/Helen-Wilson2809