Woman who beat cancer twice to celebrate 80th birthday with charity garden party

Janet Taylor – who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2013 at the age of 69 and then with bladder cancer at the age of 78 – has organised the garden party to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK.

It will be her ninth fundraiser for the charity at her home in Hall Green with Janet raising more than £4,500 in total from all of the events so far.

Janet first came up with the idea of holding the event after visiting a similar one and together with her daughter, Helen, she took the decision to hold her own in 2009 raising money for a couple of charities before changing the cause following her cancer diagnosis a few years later.

She said: “I thought it was a lovely idea to help raise funds after I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2013. The first garden party was a success and – apart from when Covid hit – we have organised the event each year since.”

Following Janet’s cancer diagnosis, she underwent 25 sessions of radiotherapy and five cycles of chemotherapy.

She said: “Following my treatment, I wanted to give something back. The garden party really is a lovely event. We have stalls selling pottery and handmade crafts as well as homemade cupcakes and traybakes and a plant stall and we also have plenty of refreshments for sale too including tea and coffee.”

Janet’s daughter, Helen Phillips, said: “I’m super proud of my mum. She works extremely hard behind the scenes prior to the event and it has always been extremely successful.

“This year, my mum celebrates her 80th birthday and we are holding a final charity event in honour of that occasion.”

The garden party will take place on Saturday, June 29 from 12 Noon to 4pm at 140 Baldwins Lane, Hall Green, Birmingham, B28 0QD.