Headteacher’s Quilt to Commemorate Cancer Support Set for Public Display

A quilt crafted by a headteacher in Derby, designed to acknowledge the support she received during her cancer treatment, is scheduled for public exhibition. Paula Martin, 53, who leads both Firs Primary School in Derby and Stanley Common Primary School in Ilkeston, received a breast cancer diagnosis on her 51st birthday in October 2022. She stated that the assistance from the school community aided her throughout her treatment, prompting her decision to create the quilt after being declared cancer-free in April 2023. Comprising patches from each of the 33 schools within the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust (DDAT), the quilt is now slated to visit each school for a week before its final display at Derby Cathedral. Mrs. Martin underwent surgery to remove the tumour and resumed her professional duties after two weeks, even while receiving radiotherapy, expressing her desire to “carry on with her life like normal.” She commented: “I love my job so I’ve never had a day off work in my 30 years of teacher, never been off sick, so it was a shock.” She added, “A child came and gave me hug when I first came back to school after the diagnosis and from that point I said ‘I’m still the same Mrs Martin and I’m not going to let the diagnosis define me’.” Mrs. Martin explained that the concept for the quilt emerged when she was asked to reflect on her cancer journey at the trust’s headteacher meeting in June 2023. “Life often leads us to belong to groups we never expected or wanted to be part of, yet within them, we can find incredible comfort and support,” she remarked. “That’s what I found within the breast cancer community – a shared strength and understanding that carried us through tough times.” She continued, “I designed this quilt to symbolise that sense of connection and to inspire pupils to feel proud of being part of this academy, a place that fosters and true sense of family, where we are all different, but together.” For updates from BBC Derby, follow on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Story submissions can be sent to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.