SHE has suffered from leukaemia for seven years but that has not stopped a Watford woman from fulfilling her ambition of opening her own shop.

Mrs Susan Hayes, 32, will launch and open The Flower Box a florist and gift shop in Vicarage Road, Watford, on Saturday, June 15.

It was when Mrs Hayes was diagnosed with lung cancer that her ambition first began to take shape.

She said: "I thought if I get over that then I am going to do something special and exciting. Something to make an impact.

"I got over that and now I have had leukaemia for seven years and still receive regular treatment twice a week.

"But I am quite a stubborn person. Seven years ago I was told I had a year to live but I just thought that is not going to happen.

"I just got on with it and, touch wood, I should be OK."

Mrs Hayes used to work for English Heritage and had to give up when she became ill but still wanted to do something from home.

When a shop unit near her home became available her hopes and ideas came a step closer to reality.

She said: "I go to Mount Vernon twice a week for radiotherapy. I am used to it now. Some people say to me that they don't know how I do it and that they feel humble.

"I don't mean to make them feel humble. I just deal with it. It's the way I am. I cannot have children because of the radiotherapy so in a way this shop is like my baby."

During the past six weeks, Mrs Hayes and her husband have worked hard to totally refurbish the shop, which was originally a finishing room for the printers next door.

Now said Mrs Hayes, she has a large shop space for customers to come in and have a browse.

June 12, 2002 16:00