Survivor cheated death twice

Demi Pestell, 36, nearly died twice as results of the disease.

She is now giving up alcohol for a month and taking part in Dryathlon.

Demi, who used to work in Rugby, said: “Against the odds I’m still here and the happiest I’ve ever been.

“My father passed away from a different type of lung cancer several years before me.

“Half the stuff that’s here to help me wasn’t available to him and that’s only changed because of the work Cancer Research UK has done.

“It’s a no brainer I would want to raise money for this cause.”

Despite the odds of recovery being weighed against her, Demi pulled through and doctors told her she could go home on Christmas Eve.

Demi, who lives in Long Buckby, said: “At this point they were still dealing with an unknown primary but the doctor did tell me that I was eligible for gene testing as this might reveal where the cancer had come from.

“A friend very generously paid for the test for me and the results came back 96.6 per cent that I have ALK+mutation non small cell lung cancer.”

As a result of her diagnosis Demi was eligible for trial drugs which had instant results.

Demi said: “I’ve cheated death twice and it’s made me realise I’m much more resilient than I thought.”

Support Demi at her justgiving page https://www.justgiving.com/Demelza-Pestell-dryathlete2015/ – or register to take part in Dryathlon.