A young woman from Bury St Edmunds was helped through her breast cancer diagnosis after a charity treated her family and friends to a long weekend getaway.

Bianca Carpenter, known as Bee, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. Following her gruelling six-month treatment the cancer support charity Willow took her to Center Parcs, in Elveden Forest.

Bee, 28, found out that Willow was arranging the short-break after her first chemotherapy session.

“Knowing we had a break at Center Parcs to look forward to kept us all going on the darkest and lowest days,” she said. “I was told about my special day after my first chemotherapy session so knowing I had it booked for when my treatment was over really made a difference.”

Willow arranged for Bee, boyfriend Owen, her parents and two best friends, Luke and Baz, to stay at Eleveden Forest. Her friends and family who have supported her also came along on her birthday to spend some time with Bee.

Bee added: “Spending time away with my boyfriend, family and best friends meant the world to me.

“I celebrated my birthday there with all my favourite people. My friend Sarah [Burns], who also has cancer, joined us along with her boyfriend and my cousins also joined us. We had such a fun time; I have never laughed and smiled so much in my life.

“My break was the perfect end to the hardest year of my life. We all enjoyed every minute of it. We will all hold the memories from our break at Center Parcs forever.”

Bee’s treatment is now over but she still has yearly check-ups and is awaiting reconstructive surgery following her mastectomy. She is currently working part-time as a beauty therapist while her and Owen search for a new house in Bury.

Bee’s friend Sarah Burns, from Ixworth, has been fundraising for Willow since being diagnosed herself with Sarcoma.

Sarah’s head shave and other events have so far raised more than £11,000, with Sarah set for her special day in March this year.

To date, Willow has provided more than 12,000 special days for young adults diagnosed with a life-threatening condition such as cancer, motor neurone disease, cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease.

For more information about Willow visit www.willowfoundation.org.uk or telephone 01707 259777.