Sparkling business inspired by my mum's cancer battle

THIS entrepreneur started her company with a conscience when her mum was diagnosed with cancer.

Glitzy Bitz was set up by Helen Hudson, 34, of Waltham, after her mum, Pauline, was treated for breast cancer in May last year.

The company, which sells jewellery and accessories at mobile parties, donates 2.5 per cent of its turnover to Breast Cancer Care and has raised £1,525 in its first ten months.

Since then, Pauline, 60, has had the cancer removed and is now in remission. The business helped them both through a very difficult time.

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Helen said: "I thought about giving up with the business at one point, as I was so upset and felt very alone.

"Then I decided to make my first party a fundraiser and people started phoning me and sending me messages and I realised that there was hope.

"It opened my eyes to just how many people's lives are affected by breast cancer, and that I could do something which could help on a more long-term basis."

Former PA Helen had just had her second child and was looking for a way to earn money when the family got the terrible news.

Pauline has lupus and could not have chemotherapy, and was then made redundant from her job just a few months later.

She said: "I had been for a check-up at Castle Hill in Hull two months prior and then in May, they found a shadow – it was a bolt out of the blue.

"It was already at stage two and I thought that I wouldn't get to see my grandchildren grow up."

However, she did recover, and is now employed by her daughter, holding her own mobile Glitzy Bitz parties.

"I am so proud of what she has done – it is absolutely fantastic," she said.

"She's always needed to do something and she loved jewellery from a young age, just like me.

"We are like magpies – we just love glittery things, whether they are worth 10p or £100, it doesn't matter."

Helen now has consultants working from Keelby and~ Healing across the whole North Lincolnshire area and hopes to expand more still.

"I would love to have my own shop one day but the parties are doing really well," she said.

"It takes some investment to set up a new employee as you have to buy the stock in but I think it will pay off.

"Even my accountant is pleased with me – he says the figures are the best he's seen for a new company in years.

"People just want to get behind it because of the charity element."

To find out more, visit Glitzy Bitz's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/glitzybitz99.