When you’re facing cancer treatment, there’s a lot you can’t control. That’s what makes even the smallest wins feel massive, like keeping your hair. For Fiona Price, a mum from Pontefract, being able to look in the mirror and still see herself during chemo made all the difference. One year on from her diagnosis, Fiona’s just tackled the Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise money for something that helped her more than she expected: a cold cap.
She’s hoping to raise £10,000 for a second machine at Pontefract Hospital so others can have the same option she did. Here’s why that matters, and what her journey’s been like.
What is a cold cap and why does it matter?
Going through chemotherapy can be overwhelming, and hair loss is often one of the hardest parts. A cold cap is a helmet-like device that cools your scalp during treatment. Sounds a bit weird, right? But here’s the science behind it.
By chilling the scalp, the cold cap slows down blood flow in that area. This means fewer chemo drugs reach the hair follicles, which can help reduce hair loss. Fiona said using the cold cap helped her keep about 80% of her hair during her treatment. That doesn’t just make a difference to photos or appearances, it helps people feel more like themselves when life feels anything but normal.
Or as Fiona put it:
“Being able to keep my hair helped me feel just a little more like myself. It gave me a small sense of control and normality in the midst of something so frightening.”
Fiona’s diagnosis and year-long fight
Fiona’s story starts in 2024, when she was just getting back into the swing of things after maternity leave. Two weeks back at work, right after her daughter’s first birthday, she was hit with a diagnosis: grade 3 aggressive, triple-negative breast cancer.
Triple-negative is a tough one. It means the cancer isn’t fuelled by hormones, which limits the treatment options. Fiona’s treatment included:
- 13 weeks of chemotherapy and immunotherapy
- A double mastectomy
- Full lymph node clearance
It was a brutal year. But on Christmas Eve, Fiona got the best present anyone in her shoes could ask for: the all-clear.
The Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge
To mark one year since her diagnosis, Fiona decided to take on something that would have seemed impossible 12 months earlier: walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks.
For anyone who doesn’t know, that’s Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough, a 24-mile trek with some pretty steep climbs. It’s the kind of challenge that takes serious mental grit, not just strong legs.
But for Fiona, it was about more than hiking. It was about saying, “I’m still here. I did it.” And she’s not stopping there.
Family-powered fundraising
Fiona isn’t fundraising alone. Her whole family has been pitching in, literally moving mountains in their own ways:
- James, her husband, ran 5K every day in May. He’s now planning a Triple HYROX (yes, that’s three rounds of one of the world’s toughest fitness challenges!) by the end of 2025.
- Her mum, Angela, swam the distance of the English Channel—in her local swimming pool.
- Fiona’s sister ran Race for Life, another big show of support.
It’s all in aid of buying a second cold cap for the Chemotherapy Day Unit at Pontefract Hospital. Because right now, only one patient can use the cap at a time. With another machine, more people could have the chance to keep their hair, and their sense of self.
Fiona’s final treatment – and a big bell ring
Fiona is set to finish her last immunotherapy session on Tuesday, July 1, and she’s planning something special to mark it: ringing the end-of-treatment bell at the hospital. If you’ve ever seen one of those moments online, you’ll know it’s emotional. It’s not just about the sound of the bell, it’s what it represents: survival, relief, and a new chapter.
She joked it would be so loud, “it’ll be heard across Pontefract Hospital.” And honestly? We believe her.
Want to help?
Fiona’s aiming to hit £10,000 before July 1. Every penny helps her get closer to putting that second cold cap in place—and giving someone else the chance to look in the mirror during chemo and still see themselves.
You can support her fundraising through MY Hospitals Charity by clicking here.
Why this matters
Cancer is terrifying. Treatments are gruelling. But small things, like keeping your hair, can help people hold on to their identity while fighting something huge.
Fiona’s not just walking for herself. She’s walking for the next person who hears the words “You’ve got cancer.” And thanks to her, that person might get a little extra comfort when they need it most.
