A CANCER survivor from York has told how she took up volunteering at her children’s school to ensure they had fond memories of her.

Sally Gatus, of Dringhouses, is the mother of Angus, nine, and Laura, six, and first realised she was ill shortly before Laura’s birth.

Sally said: “After Angus was born, I thought I had post-natal depression. I was having panic attacks, dizziness and shortness of breath, but didn’t find out until I was pregnant with Laura that I had an arterial fibulation.”

Sally was put on beta-blockers for her heart condition, but in 2005 was diagnosed with breast cancer, and had a series of operations, leading to a mastectomy and breast reconstruction.

Sally, 44, said: “I had the first operation on Laura’s birthday, but the doctors let me spend the day leading up to the operation with my family.

“Unfortunately, that didn’t get it all, but they let me home for Christmas and New Year, and on January 6, I had the mastectomy and reconstruction.”

Sally got the all-clear from both conditions in November last year, but in the meantime has thrown herself into volunteer work at Dringhouses Primary School, which has led to her nomination for Volunteer Of The Year at the 2011 Community Pride Awards.

Julie Sellers, also from Dringhouses, praised Sally’s work with the local children to explore the environment. She said: “For the last couple of years, Sally has given her time to the children of Dringhouses School. She commits her time to a gardening club on Fridays after school, and teaches the children about environmental issues.

“At the moment, she is developing an outdoor classroom in the local wooded area where the children may be able to observe wildlife in its natural habitat.”

Rosie Wallace, an administrator at the school, said: “She’s transformed our school garden, which was just a tip. Sally noticed it was looking shabby in front of the head’s office.

“She does it all out of the goodness of her heart, and manages to get people to help or donate time and items to help out. She has no idea how much it means.”

Sally said: “My mum had a stroke when I was younger and I looked after her for ten years, so I just want to give my children a lot of memories. I never set out to run the club on a regular basis, but I get to work with them at the school.”

•Nominations are still open for this year’s awards.

Entries can be submitted on yorkpress.co.uk/news/communitypride