A WILLITON mum is urging her fellow females to keep up-to-date with their smear tests after hers revealed she needed treatment to remove pre-cancerous cells.

Tash Steer-Frost, who works in Taunton, has been raising awareness of the role of smear tests in preventing cervical cancer.

After undergoing treatment to remove potentially cancerous cells, she decided to do something she swore she’d never do and is taking on a marathon in aid of the charity that supported her during treatment.

The mum-of-two was told that abnormal cells had been found on her cervix following a routine smear test last September and was told she had to undergo treatment called Lletz to remove the cells.

Mrs Steer-Frost said: “The procedure itself wasn’t that bad but it took me a while to recover afterwards. I’m a very positive person but it was quite an emotional time for me and my husband.

“I called the Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust Helpline at the time, and the lady was wonderful. She even gave me a call back after my procedure to check in with me.”

Now Tash is preparing to take on the Brighton Marathon next month in aid of the charity.

“I am a keen runner but I always said I would never un a marathon,” she said. “But when the opportunity to run the Brighton Marathon came up I just knew I had to do it, I’m really excited.

“My son and my step daughter have been encouraging me and my Labrador Charlie has been on a lot of the runs with me.

“I think it will be quite an emotional day but I want to raise as much awareness as possible about the importance of smear tests and the incredible support Jo’s offer to the hundreds of women who are going through exactly what I have been through.”

Smear tests save around 5,000 lives every year in the UK, and yet one in four women don’t attend when invited. 

Robert Music, chief executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said: “We are delighted that Tash is helping us raise awareness and has chosen to fundraise for Jo’s by running the Brighton Marathon.”

“Every donation makes a difference and just £20 can fund a Helpline call meaning a woman like Tash can get the support they need at a difficult time. I wish her all the best for her training.”

Tash has smashed her initial fundraising target of £500 and hopes to raise more money for Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust during her final weeks of training.

She added: “I’m extremely grateful to all the people who have kindly sponsored me and those who helped me with my fundraising.”

“My advice to other women is please just go and have your smear test done, it only takes five minutes but those five minutes could help prevent you developing cervical cancer.”

To sponsor Tash, click here