A BEAUTY salon owner is offering free treatments to cancer patients in memory of her beloved "second mother".
Sarah Norris, who owns ACE Beauty clinic, in Shenfield, was inspired to give something back when family friend Joan Williams, from Hutton, died seven years ago at the age of 57.
Since then, Sarah has devoted her spare time to giving reflexology sessions to cancer patients at the Helen Rollason Cancer Support Centre, in Chelmsford.
She is now offering a series of gentle massage treatments from her salon, as well as a listening ear to patients.
The 34-year-old said: "When Joan was unwell, she was taking care of her children and her poorly mother, as well as going to work.
"She gave such a lot and I loved her for that. She was like a second mother to me and when she died it felt like the time to give something back. If she could do it, then I had no excuse."
Sarah has now committed to giving a couple of hours each week to treating cancer patients free of charge, on their consultant's approval.
She said: "I treated a woman this week who has five brain tumours and is very poorly. I gave her a manicure and a pedicure and a gentle facial.
"It's a bit of 'me' time, but the massage also helps to ease the pain they may be suffering.
"I also find they want to open up and talk to me as I am effectively a stranger and they often don't want to upset their families.
"My long-term career plan is to train to become a counsellor.
"I do sometimes get upset by what I see and hear as some people are doing everything right in life and still get unwell, but doing this really helps me to put life in perspective."
