AN INSPIRATION Halesowen woman who defied cancer three times who has just got married is to feature in a campaign to help beat the disease.

Michelle Wain, aged 46, and her 47-year-old husband Darren will feature in the Cancer Research UK’s latest campaign ‘Just a Tick’.

On July 1, Cancer Research will become an ‘opt in’ charity meaning it will only contact supporters who have given their explicit permission.

For the couple, who were married in Bromsgrove on April 30, the campaign is one close to their hearts after Michelle survived three different types of cancer while both her parents also battled the disease.

Michelle, who works as an administrator for Newell & Wright Transport in Birmingham, said: “I’m really passionate about supporting Cancer Research UK now because I’m living proof of the value of research.

“Without the incredible advances scientists have made I wouldn’t be here. That’s why it’s vitally important that everyone ticks the box allowing Cancer Research UK to keep in touch.

“Just a tick is all it takes to be kept informed about advances in research and all the different fundraising activities that are helping bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.”

She was first diagnosed with a rare form of nasal cancer called adenocarcinoma and successfully underwent surgery to remove a slice of bone the tumour had grown on.

The family were dealt a double blow when her mum Pat Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.

Her GP recommended Michelle for a mammogram, as there might be a genetic link, and later discovered traces of cancer in both her breasts which would require a full mastectomy.

And while still reeling from this news, results of a scan on her lung showed she had cancer for a third time. In November 2013, she had half of her left lung removed.

Amazingly Michelle recovered and returned to work at the start of March 2014 without the need for chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

A double mastectomy took place later that month and, again, Michelle was back at work when she was fit enough - even after overcoming complications in surgery and suffering a blood clot.

But heartbreak was to come when Michelle’s dad Bob Smith was diagnosed with myeloma - cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow - in May 2015.

He sadly died in March last year but not before Michelle and her partner of 11 years, Darren, had told him their good news.

She said: “Dad loved Darren and he never thought we’d ever get married so he was over the moon when we told him on Valentine’s Day last year.

“It was mum’s birthday and we were just about to go on holiday to Thailand so it seemed like the right time.”

To find out more about ‘opt in’, visit www.cruk.org/justatick