A Dumfries-born veterinary nurse who was diagnosed with endometrial cancer halfway through her studies has received a top honour from Scotland’s Rural College.
Thirty-six-year-old Ashley Little was awarded the inaugural Fairweather Prize for Further Education which recognises resilience, determination and achievements in overcoming adversity.
The accolade was established in memory of Jamie Fairweather, who died last year six months after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer.
Mr Fairweather and his wife Mary wanted it to go to a student who demonstrated exceptional qualities over the course of their studies.
Ashley, now a qualified registered veterinary nurse, completed her qualification after undergoing treatment for cancer.
She said: “I am very honoured to receive this award which exists due to the great generosity of Jamie and Mary Fairweather, and I would like to express my gratitude to the Fairweather family.
“For me, this award symbolises the end of a very long and challenging road and the beginning of a new chapter.”
Ashley initially worked with the media metadata supply company BDSWest10 after doing a BA (Hons) degree in Commercial Music at the University of the West of Scotland.
However, her love of animals led her to change career and take a job as an animal care assistant at Broadleys Veterinary Hospital in Stirling.
The practice offered to support her through the SRUC Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing course which allows students to study while working.
It was during her second year of study in 2019, that she started to experience severe stomach pains which continued to worsen.
She persevered with her studies and job and when furloughed from work during the Covid-19 pandemic, did online classes.
After almost a year of repeated GP visits and hospital appointments she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in July 2020 at the age of 33.
Ashley said: “In order to go through the gruelling treatment plan, I had to take a break from my training. Due to the pandemic I had to attend all my appointments and treatments alone and had to isolate prior to several procedures which meant spending a lot of my time on my own mentally processing my condition and what I had to endure.
“I had a full hysterectomy – after which my diagnosis was confirmed as stage three, and I was required to go through adjuvant treatment in the form of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
“The side effects of the treatments often felt torturous and even now I am not sure how I was able to get through to the other side.
“But I was lucky enough to have family and friends who supported me through the biggest challenge I hope I will ever have to face. My colleagues and lecturers also showed me a great deal of empathy and understanding during this time and were ready to provide me with the help I needed when I recovered enough to return to work and to my studies.
“I was very relieved to receive my results and finally achieve my qualification despite
everything.”
Ashley is now continuing to gain experience in her job and enjoys spending time with her two dogs and three cats and playing and writing songs on her ukulele and guitar. She said: “After my illness I have a greater appreciation for the fragility of life and the importance of finding joy in the little things.”
Ashley received the award at a prizewinning ceremony at SRUC’s Oatridge campus in West Lothian.
