Gym mum who beat cervical cancer to take on squats challenge

After receiving a hysterectomy, chemotherapy and two types of radiotherapy, 40-year-old Crystal Manuel from Chandlers Ford has beaten the disease.

Now she and her Dynamo gymnast daughter, Chaia, 12, are encouraging people to carry out 100 squats every day this month to help make the next research breakthrough happen to help people like her.

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Participants can adapt the Stand Up To Cancer challenge to suit their fitness level and complete their squats anytime, anywhere – all at once or throughout the day.

By the end of the 30 days, they will have clocked-up a total of 3,000 squats to help power life-saving research.    

Crystal, who is also mum to 15-year-old Cameron, said: "I had a feeling it could be something serious but at the same time, I didn’t think it could be cancer. I was shocked and devastated because when my mum was diagnosed at 49, she passed away three months later and I was so afraid the same thing would happen to me. All that played in my mind was that my children were too young not to have their mother.

“But it’s thanks to research that I’m still standing and can look forward to a future full of special moments with my loved ones and see my children enjoy and excel at their sports. Cancer can affect anyone’s life, at any time, so we really have no choice other than to unite against it and help support the scientists to keep making new discoveries.”

The Stand Up To Cancer campaign by Cancer Research UK will see several special programmes aired on Channel 4, including a night of live television on Friday (November 3).

 Stand Up To Cancer takes developments from the lab and accelerates them into new tests and treatments that could help save the lives of more people like Crystal.

 To donate or fundraise for the cause, visit su2c.org.uk