A WIRRAL cancer survivor has raised more than £2,000 for the hospital that helped her beat the disease.

Sarah Oliver, 55 from Upton raised the amount by knitting and selling cuddly toys- a talent she learnt last year while recovering from breast cancer.

Mum-of-two, Sarah discovered she had a tumour in her right breast following a routine mammogram in August 2014 and was transferred to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Sarah said: “Being told I had breast cancer left me totally devastated. I’d presented with no symptoms so it came as a real shock.

“My husband and family were a huge support, then while I was off work after my treatment I began knitting to help keep my arm exercised.”

The 55-year-old chose a rather unusual animal to knit and sell- a rat, following a request from her daughter.

“My daughter asked me to knit her a rat as she has two pet rats, and I searched for a pattern but couldn't find one anywhere.

“So I bought a ball of wool, created my own pattern and knitted my first rat, named Mort, for my daughter.” Sarah added.

“When I returned to work at the Pharmacy department at Clatterbridge Hospital my colleagues asked me to make them a Pharmacy rat. I was so surprised, when suddenly more and more people asked for one of their own.”

“I decided to charge £10 per rat, and aimed to raise £200 for The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.

“I wanted to support research into new treatments for breast cancer; not only because of the wonderful care I had under my consultant Dr Errington, but it’s lovely that we can support a charity so close to us at work too.”

“The treatment I had at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre was second-to-none and I’m grateful for everything that everyone has done, I know I’m in the best possible hands.”

Sarah underwent surgery followed by radiotherapy at Clatterbridge which ended in February 2015.

Elspeth Wilson from The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity said “It’s such a unique way to raise money and an incredible achievement for Sarah and her friends.

“It was a pleasure to meet the team behind ‘Clatters the Rat’ when they handed over the huge cheque last week.”

“It was so clear, when hearing her colleagues talk about her, that there is a lot of love for Sarah. She has obviously faced her journey with real bravery and it shows by the huge amount of support she has received.”

“We couldn’t resist choosing our own rat too, and ‘Bluebell’ (named after a cancer research study we are helping to fund) has taken pride of place in our office!”

Find out more about Sarah’s incredible fundraising with Clatters The Rat, visit clatterbridgecc.org.uk or contact the charity team on 0151 482 7948.