WHEN Lorraine Crowther was diagnosed with breast cancer she feared she would let her Cub Scout group down.

Mrs Crowther – Akela to the 24 Cubs of the 22nd Oxford Sea Scouts – was told she had cancer on her daughter Orla’s eighth birthday in January.

She was operated on within days and began six months of chemotherapy.

But she was determined to stay committed to the Cubs and organised her treatment so she could still attend weekly meetings – and even made it to the group’s big summer camp in the New Forest.

The mum-of-two from Parsons Place, East Oxford, said: “I was totally devastated for everybody as I’d felt I’d committed to them and I couldn’t commit any more.

“I felt completely committed to the pack as they are such wonderful children.”

She added: “They were a real source of strength.”

The 43-year-old, who has been leader for two years, even prepared Cub sessions for when her treatment meant she was too ill to attend.

She said the weekly chemo-therapy at the Churchill Hospital left her feeling sick and exhausted.

In recognition of her dedication to the group, the Scout Association last month awarded Mrs Crowther the Meritorious Award for Conduct of an Exceptionally High Standard.

The certificate was presented by County Commissioner Tarquin May at the 22nd Oxford Headquarters in Meadow Lane, off Donnington Bridge Road.

Oxford Spires Scout District spokesman Bill Butcher said: “Her first concern was what was going to happen to her Cub pack as she did not know how the future was going to unfold.

“Despite this, she was not going to give in and she knew it was going to be a difficult time living with the side effects of chemotherapy.

“This was just another thing she had to take into consideration when organising her plans.”

Keith Manning, group Scout leader of the 22nd Oxford, added: “Lorraine is a credit to the Scout Movement, she thought of her Cub Scouts, often before herself, to ensure they had active scouting.”

Mrs Crowther also had four weeks of intensive radiotherapy in August.

She has now been told the treatment was successful, but she will take tamoxifen pills for five years and go for regular check-ups.

She added: “At the moment I feel very good.

“It has been a long battle but the energy levels seem to be back.”

Mrs Crowther, who is married to Paul, 40, and has another daughter Georgia, 11, also works as an administrator and teaching assistant at St Clement’s Church Pre-School.