I’ll be scaling the heights to light a beacon for jubilee

Beverley Hicks, aged 54, of Barbourne, Worcester, will join a group of cancer survivors, scientists and supporters scaling Scafell Pike in the Lake District on Monday to light the charity’s Beacon of Hope as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons.

Mrs Hicks, who launched Race for Life in Worcester in 2009, was invited by Cancer Research UK to join other climbers, including model and TV personality Nell McAndrew and Radio 2 DJ Bob Harris.

The charity is one of four that have been invited by Bruno Peek, the pageantmaster for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons, to light a beacon at the top of the UK’s four highest peaks.

Mrs Hicks and the group will join Dr Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, as he lights the beacon at 10.29pm, one minute before the Queen lights the national beacon in central London.

Mrs Hicks, an ophthalmic nurse at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2001 and had surgery, followed by a chemotherapy drug called carboplatin, developed by Cancer Research UK scientists.

She is now well and has completed seven London Marathons to raise money for the charity.

She said: “Being told I had cancer was so scary and I would urge people to go and get things checked out if they have any concerns as early diagnosis can make such a difference.

“The charity’s work is vital for the cancer drugs of tomorrow. It takes scientists years of hard work to get each drug ready for use, so people like me can be given a second chance in life.” Ahead of the climb, Mrs Hicks will be part of a small ceremony of hope, which will give an opportunity for the climbers to commemorate Cancer Research UK’s vital work and memorable moments of the Queen’s 60-year reign.

On Monday, more than 4,000 beacons will be lit throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, the Commonwealth, UK overseas territories and other countries around the world.