“I KNEW I was lucky to be alive”.

Julie Hooper, from Hythe, had an operation after she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer three years ago.

But without the support of cancer charity Wessex Cancer Trust, she said it would have been a “far greater struggle to recover” without their help.

The Wessex Cancer Trust are now urging people to help them raise £600,000 by January 31 2020, or risks having to close, leaving them unable to support people with cancer.

Julie was given support by them after developing a large tumour called liposarcoma which had spread to her kidney, spleen and colon.

Although Julie, who is a clinical research trial manager in medicine at the University of Southampton, said she had not previously felt ill before her diagnosis, she was referred to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London for immediate surgery to remove the tumour.

She said: “I knew I was lucky to be alive, and that evoked a whole range of emotions. I felt very weak physically, low, scared and tearful.

“It had all been a huge shock, physically and emotionally. This was really difficult for me to accept as I am usually a strong, positive person, so I couldn’t believe I was finding it so hard to cope and get on with my life again.”

Julie was given contact details for the Wessex Cancer Trust support centre in Hythe.

Their centres across Chandler’s Ford, Hythe, Bournemouth and Isle of Wight provide a drop-in service, counselling, therapies, activities, and support groups.

She said: “The befrienders at Wessex are easygoing and gentle. They’ve helped me to accept that I will have off days, and that it is perfectly normal to feel like that given the trauma I’d been through."

Julie added: “I am unable to play sport like I used to, but it is a small price to pay.

“I know it would have been a far greater struggle for me to recover had Wessex Cancer Trust not been there for me.”

To donate to Wessex Cancer Trust, text SAVEWESSEX to 70085 or visit justgiving.com/campaign/savewessexcancertrust.