A BREAST cancer survivor turned her passion into a business during her recovery. 

Donna Smith had always been a fan of baking, as she regularly made cakes for her family. 

Following her cancer journey, she set up Cake Break at home. 

She said: "I’ve always baked cakes for my children and grandchildren’s birthdays.

"As my boys were growing up, it was quite hard financially, so I’d always try to do stuff myself and made sure they had desserts."

Donna was previously a primary school teaching assistant, however, due to her condition, she stepped away from that role.

She was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in 2020, following a series of routine mammograms that left her feeling frustrated as she was told that nothing was found.

She later received an ultrasound that showed what she had suspected. 

Donna said that losing her hair had a deeper impact on her.

She explained how her late mum, who passed away when she was two, ask Donna’s dad to promise to keep their daughters’ hair long.

The 55-year-old said: "I’d always had long hair, so I felt that I was letting my mum down. That was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

"I was due to go in to get my hair cut short at Paul Smith's in Earlestown, and Paul messaged me on Sunday night saying we’ve gone into lockdown and all the hairdressers have to close again.

"He said if I get to his salon tonight, he can do it for me. So, he opened his salon on Sunday night and cut my hair.

"He was absolutely amazing. I came home and he messaged me and said, ‘I’m so sorry I had to do that, I know you’re not happy with what I’ve done; it was the hardest thing I ever had to do but I had to keep calm and do it.’"

Warrington Guardian: Donna found cutting her hair very difficult as she had always had long hair Donna found cutting her hair very difficult as she had always had long hair

The mum-of-four had the first anniversary of her final chemotherapy session at the start of this month.

Having had to stay at home for months, Donna began pursuing her hobby of baking again.

She said: "I made some scones and stuff for my son and his partner, and my son said to me I should set up a Facebook page.

"His partner put stuff on her Facebook page, and I got so many orders off it. People were messaging her and she was picking them up and delivering them for me as I couldn’t.

"I did it out of boredom because I was in here for six months, and I thought I always wanted to do it but never had the nerve."

Warrington Guardian: Cake Break offer a variety of cake designs Cake Break offer a variety of cake designs

Amanda Jackson, owner of Newton high street coffee shop Mamma J's, also got in touch with Donna asking if she'd be interested to bring orders to the shop. 

Cake Break currently provides the cakes for Mamma J's, with Donna praising Amanda and her staff for how lovely they are.

Donna also hopes to open her own cake shop in the future.