Published on 28 September 2016
Cancer survivor and three-time Sunderland graduate Miranda Ashitey has joined Marks and Spencer's 'Magnificent Seven' - seven women fighting breast cancer and who want to highlight the positive effect of daily activity on health.
Miranda, who graduated from the University of Sunderland with a Masters in History (2006), a Masters in Radio Production and Management (2005) and a degree in Media Production (2003), was diagnosed in 2014.
She has joined the Breast Cancer Now ambassadors; inspirational women whose lives have been impacted by the disease and are telling their stories ahead of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Miranda said: "I got involved with the M&S campaign through Breast Cancer Now. Last year, for the charity's launch I was in the television and online advert "The Last One", where every woman in the advert was at various stages of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Now got in touch with me asking if I would be interested in auditioning for this year's campaign with M&S, I sent through a video of myself and I was chosen to be one of the seven ladies."
She added: "It was important to share my story as I wanted to raise awareness of the reality of breast cancer. I wanted to turn a negative situation into something positive. I've had friends tell me they now know more about breast cancer than they ever did. If by seeing my story, just one person was able to detect their cancer early, thus improving their chances of survival, then it's worth it."
Miranda says she’s now in remission and has been out of active treatment since last November. This month she completed the Great North Run and has now booked her charity place with Breast Cancer Now to run again next year.
She now lives back in London and began working as a Data Administrator in March for the Professional Standards Authority, a regulator/watchdog for health and social care regulators. Not one to stop there, she also works part-time job driving VW camper vans for weddings and events for Buttercup Bus.
"I have some many fond memories of Sunderland, for a university city, it's not an expensive place to live, the opportunities you can get through studying there are great and you've got a sandy beach on your doorstep!"
Describing her time at Sunderland, Miranda commented: "I absolutely loved my time at the University. Staying at Wearmouth Hall in my first year, joining the National Hat Society, making lifelong friends and doing courses that I actually liked and made me think.
"I decided to do the BA Media Production (TV & Radio) degree because when I was doing my A Levels, it was one of the best universities to do that type of course. It also was as far away from London and my parents as possible and I thought if I'm going to do the university experience, then if I have the temptation of going home all the time as it would be nearby, they would be no point. I have some many fond memories of Sunderland, for a university city, it's not an expensive place to live, the opportunities you can get through studying there are great and you've got a sandy beach on your doorstep!
Miranda still considers Sunderland her second home. "I'm constantly coming back," she adds. "I was actually up this weekend! I went to the Sunderland vs. Crystal Palace match and to Sunderland Pride.
"I've got lots of friends that live in Sunderland or in the North East; they keep saying I should just move back up, I'm here so much!
Throughout October M&S is donating 10% of sales to Breast Cancer Now on sports bras and women’s fitness clothing. http://www.marksandspencer.com/s/lingerie/breast-cancer-now