Life at Cambridge was completely different to anything Hayley had experienced before. “Arriving in Cambridge was totally overwhelming, especially I’d been on Iona for two months. I found it so bizarre seeing people wearing gowns and drinking port at formals.”

But Hayley grew to love the quirks of Cambridge. “I got into researching Pictish symbol stones, left by the Picts in Scotland between the fourth and tenth centuries. No one knows what the symbols mean.”

“I also played the fiddle in the Ceilidh band, and we got to play at some of the May Balls. It was always at silly o’clock, sometimes 3am! But it was an incredible experience.”

A particularly surreal moment was a chance encounter returning books to the library. “The street was closed as Queen Elizabeth was visiting. A guy in a suit came up to me and said, “That’s a lot of books you’ve got there. What do you study?” I had a chat with him about my studies.

When he left, my friend said “Hayley, I think that was Prince Philip!”

Through her course, extracurriculars, and serendipitous encounters, Cambridge nurtured Hayley’s experimental approach to life.

“I’ve learnt that I can try something new, trust my intuition, and see where it takes me.”

Hayley swapped graduate schemes for something a little less conventional. “The Cambridge experience can feel surreal, so I wanted to do something gritty and real as my next step.”

“Street fundraising for Greenpeace was very different to Cambridge, and it could be very tough and challenging at times.

"Standing on a high street for six or seven hours per day, often in the cold and rain, trying to get the attention of mostly uninterested passers-by, required a great deal of resilience.

"This meant, however, that the two or three new donors I signed up each day felt like a huge achievement.”

To advance her career, Hayley had to think outside of the box. “I found a private sector job doing bid writing for a couple of years. Then, I made the move to bid writing for charities.”

Hayley’s alternative route into fundraising paid off. “I joined St Mungo's, a homelessness charity, at entry level and eventually ended up leading the trust fundraising team.

"During this time, we hit £1,000,000 income for the first time.”

With her career and life progressing, Hayley felt unstoppable. “After I had my daughter in 2018, I decided to go freelance.

"Things were just getting off the ground when the pandemic happened. Then, with time, I found new clients and built everything up again.

"Then, I got cancer.”

What began as an expression of gratitude and a desire for connection sketched the blueprint for a radical idea: a graphic novel to share her experience of breast cancer treatment.

“This Might Surprise You: A Breast Cancer Story” is an honest and moving graphic memoir documenting Hayley’s breast cancer diagnosis.

In her book, Hayley recounts her experiences of navigating the NHS and shares the importance of maintaining her identity during the dehumanising process of cancer treatment.

Combining humour and honesty, the book is shamelessly unfiltered. “The book came out of a real urge to express myself, so I share some very personal things. But I think that’s what gives it its power.”

Hayley’s authenticity has created a community of support on her Instagram, where many of her followers are experiencing or have had breast cancer.

“They say I've put into words something that they didn't know how to express themselves.

"Some of them have even shared my cartoons with their family and friends to help explain their experiences.”

Although a graphic novel may seem an unconventional way of sharing such an emotive subject, Hayley believes that it’s a perfect channel: “As I do in my fundraising work, I wanted to balance the head and the heart.

"I needed the facts of the story, whilst also balancing this with humour and creativity."

"Cancer is grim, but it's also hopeful.”