Early this year, Claudia Boardman, 22, received the devastating news she had Rhabdomyosarcoma – a less common type of soft tissue cancer, which can appear in any part of the body.

They  will join the Media City 5K ,  on 31 August from 7pm-9pm raising money for the charity Sarcoma UK.

The student, who was in her final year of the midwifery course, had to make the difficult decision to interrupt her studies to receive extensive treatment for the illness.

After having back pain for 6 months, one morning Claudia woke up and realised she had lost the feeling in most of her lower body.

A visit to A&E revealed a large tumour on her spine, which was pressing against her spinal cord and chest.

She was immediately transferred to a different hospital where she had emergency surgery to have part of the tumour removed.

The operation was successful, but a biopsy revealed the tumour was a rhabdomyosarcoma.

On average, only112 cases of rhabdomyosarcoma are diagnosed every year in England, and now, Claudia is having nine rounds of intense chemotherapy, more major surgery to remove the rest of the tumour and radiotherapy. She will eventually need more chemotherapy following the treatment.

Claudia said: “I chose midwifery because I always wanted to do a rewarding job supporting and empowering women, and what better way to do that than helping bring life into the world. 

Being diagnosed with cancer meant I had to interrupt from my university course and my world had been turned completely upside down.

“I started treatment in March and lost all of my hair just 2 weeks after starting treatment.

“Fast forward to June, and I am on my fifth round chemotherapy, with 4 to go.”

Her friend and fellow student Katie Needham said: “As Claudia’s peers, we were all shocked and upset that she was having to leave the course indefinitely.

“It has been difficult knowing that her and her family were faced with so many operations and appointments.

“But organising the race has given us something to focus on and do something positive both for Claudia and Sarcoma UK.”

She added: “Any donation, no matter how small would be appreciated as a show of support to Claudia and her amazing family.”

Louisa Morgan, Events Manager at Sarcoma UK, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Katie, Claudia and their peers at the University of Manchester for taking on this challenge.

“Around 5,300 people in the UK are diagnosed with sarcoma cancer each year, and sadly very few people recognise its signs and symptoms. Sarcoma UK relies on generous voluntary donations, and the energy and imagination of our tireless fundraisers and supporters.

“The money raised by Katie and the team will help us to fund vital research to improve outcomes for everyone affected by sarcoma.”

You can donate by visiting the page

The University of Manchester, 91ֱ�� University NHS Foundation Trust, Loreto High School and Royal College of Midwives collaboration aim to increase numbers of student midwives from Black and Asian heritage.

The book, called With Women, was largely put together by young people from Loreto High School in 91ֱ�� with the support of midwives from the region.

Many women in the UK are from Black and Asian backgrounds and have needs that are culturally specific when they give birth.

Research has shown that midwives from a similar heritage to women they care for can improve their experience in hospital, and have a safer birth.

Noting that low numbers of student midwives are of Black and Asian heritage, this project involves promoting midwifery as a career to young people of colour.

The book about the journey 91ֱ�� midwives have taken to become a midwife describes their background, education and current roles.

It will be shared with young people across the country and is supported by Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwifery Officer for England who has written the foreward.

Christine Furber, Reader in Midwifery at The University of Manchester said: “Midwives are vital to provide safe, effective and high-quality personalised care that women and families need during pregnancy and after birth.

“We’re delighted this project promotes the crucial task of encouraging young people from black and minority ethnic groups to join the profession.

“I’d like to thank the young people from Loretto for their amazing work which is especially relevant to us here in Greater 91ֱ�� where almost 50% of women who birth are from outside the UK.”

A student from Loretto called Anna Kay told her teacher: “It shows the struggles in the workplace which can affect peoople’s lives” and another student Rebakah said: “This book is importa t because it is informing and educating about the BAME society to show anything is positive no matter your background.”

Catherine Millan is a Student Recruitment and Widening Participation Officer from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups at The University of Manchester

She said: “Hearing the powerful and moving stories has enabled the young people on the project to really see what they can be.

“I want to thank everyone who has been involved for their continued dedication and commitment over the last year-while living through a global pandemic.

“I hope that the future generation of young people of colour read this book and be inspired to pursue Midwifery as a career.”

Kathy Murphy, Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Saint Mary’s Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said: “Personally, I am very proud to be have been part of the project and to see the book now completed is a massive achievement for everyone involved. I have been overwhelmed by the power of the life stories of our midwives involved in this book and truly inspired by their drive to be ‘With Women’

“It is increasingly important for maternity services to recognise the relevance of the diverse and complex needs of our local 91ֱ�� population and engagement with young people is central to that.”

Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE Chief Midwifery Officer NHS England, said: “The contribution that midwives make to the physical and psychological health outcomes and experiences of women and babies in our multicultural nation ripples through generations. This is why these authentic, diverse and multicultural perspectives shared by midwives about their midwifery careers matter. I am delighted that this book has now been published.”

A study in the United States has shown that attitudes among community nurses are important for their compliance with infection control practices.

The study, by researchers at The University of Manchester, Columbia University, the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and Appalachian State University in the US, is published in the American .

The survey of 359 community nurses analysed knowledge, attitudes and reported compliance with practice guidelines looking at the relationship between attitudes to infection and actual compliance to infection control norms.

The study is led by Dr Jingjing Shang from Columbia University School of Nursing, with Dr David Russell from the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and Department of Sociology, Appalachian State University.

The survey revealed that attitudes and organisational culture, rather than knowledge base was much more likely to inculcate greater compliance with infection control.

Older nurses were more likely to report self-compliance as were Non-Hispanic black nurses - a cultural designation specific to the United States- who were 24% more likely than other groups to self-report compliance

The percentage of community nurses in the survey who reported compliance with infection control practices exceeded 90% for most of the measured behaviours.

However, 81.9% said they wear a disposable face mask whenever there is a possibility of a splash or splatter, and 79% said they wear a gown if soiling with blood or bodily fluids is likely.

And 78.8% - 69.6% said they wear goggles or an eye shield when of exposed to bloody discharge or fluid.

Slightly more than two-thirds of respondents said that the influenza vaccine is safe (68.5%), and 60.4% of them felt it was easy for them to stay at home when they are sick.

And almost all the respondents failed to identify that hand hygiene should be performed after touching the nursing bag, which may transport infectious pathogens between patients.

, from The University of Manchester is on the research team.

She said: “Infections such as urinary tract, respiratory, wound, and sepsis are one of the major reasons why patients are admitted to hospital. But we know very little about controlling it in the community

“In fact, the community is a place where control is more difficult as patients may live in a variety of circumstances, with varying degrees of hygiene and knowledge.”

“We find most of the nurses said they were compliant with infection control protocols, but some said they were not.”

She added: “We’re not entirely sure why older nurses are more likely to comply with infection control protocols, but it’s probably a combination of factors.

“One possibility could be that older nurses have probably spent more time in the same organisation and whose infection control practices have become second nature to them

“But our key message is that infection control is not necessarily about knowledge- as most of the nurses surveyed had been working for some time.

“So more training, for example, might not necessarily change behaviour; we felt from this research that inculcating good practice into the organisational culture is likely to be more effective.”

The research is funded by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

The paper is published in the American Journal of Infection Control.