A North East student has spoke of her perseverance and will to not be defeated by cancer, after being diagnosed with the disease earlier this year.
20-year-old Brogan Rigby noticed a change in one of her moles in January, prompting her to get it looked over by a GP, and to her devastation, less than a month later, she was told she has skin cancer.
Brogan, who is in her second year studying a Performing Arts degree at the University of Sunderland, said it felt like 'the world started to move in slow motion' after hearing the news.
Read more: The man living with terminal cancer who runs to raise money for sick and dying children
Speaking on her diagnosis, Brogan said: “I didn’t want my life to become focused on the fact that I’ve got cancer because there are so many parts to who I am.
“Working towards doing a show is motivation for me. When I’m in rehearsals I don’t sit and think about the fact I’ve got cancer, I’m not focusing on anything else but the show.
“For me, it’s been really nice to look back on the shows I’ve been in since having the cancer diagnosis and think – you’ve got through that, so you’re going to get to the end of this, you’re going to get through it.”
While having regular chemotherapy, Brogan has chosen to carry on attending classes at the University and she has even performed in not one – but four shows, including Sister Act at the city’s newest arts venue.
Programme Leader for Performing Arts at the University of Sunderland, Rachel Emms, said: “From the outset, even before the actual diagnosis, Brogan has been so positive. Her ability to keep moving forward and engage with her studies is nothing short of inspirational and I think being here amongst all of her friends with lots going on has been a distraction.
“The option for her to be assessed differently or to take time out will always be available but Brogan has made it clear that she wants to stay involved – it’s brilliant.”
Sister Act came to The Fire Station for two nights last month and was the first musical production to be performed at the new state of the art £12 million auditorium, which only opened in December last year following an £11 million investment.
Inspired by a line in the Sister Act song Take Me To Heaven (Reprise) – 'shake your pockets to the beat and toss whatever you have into the offering basket' – third year Performing Arts students Deborah Taylor-Smith, Joe Rigo and Nick Thompson came up with the idea of sending a collection plate into the audience during the performances to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
In just two nights they raised more than £600 for the leading charity.
Deborah, 39, who played the lead the role of Deloris, said: “Brogan is a hero, a super trooper as Abba would call her!
“No matter what is going on in her life, she is still getting in there and doing exactly what everyone else is doing.”
21-year-old Joe, added: “Sister Act brought us all closer together and it was made even more special by being able to raise money for such a good cause. I think it’s amazing that we’ve been able to give something back to Brogan and the wider community.”
Nick, 26, added: “It just shows the generosity of the people of Sunderland, especially with the hardship everyone is going through at the moment.”
On how she feels about the fundraiser, Brogan continued: “When I realised how much had been raised, I honestly sat there and cried because it means so much knowing how generous people are.
“Thank you to everyone that donated. It means a huge deal, not just to me but for everyone going through cancer treatment.”
You can learn more about Brogan's story on the University of Sunderland's official YouTube page here.
