A WOMAN battling bowel cancer has become the face of a new campaign to celebrate alternative role models.

Heidi Cresswell, 37, from Witham, has taken part in the Warrior Women project to give young girls inspirational real-life heroes.

The brainchild of photographer Chanon deValois it sees woman tackling adversity given a makeover ahead of a professional photoshoot.

Heidi was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year after discovering a large lump in her lower abdomen.

The lump was found to be a cancerous tumour and saw Heidi need a blood transfusion, operation and chemotherapy.

She said: “I can still remember sitting in the doctor’s office.

My head was spinning, I couldn’t breathe and I felt like I was in a dream.

“I’ve found when going through cancer treatment, you have to take each day as it comes; cry and sleep through the bad days, make the most of the good days and count the blessings in your life.

"Despite the debilitating effects of the treatment, I do not let it stop me from living my life.”

Heidi is still going through treatment, but tests show the cancer has reduced by 50 per cent.

She hopes taking part in the Warrior Women campaign will helped educate people about bowel cancer.

She said: “I hope my story can raise awareness of bowel cancer, particularly in young people. Once I’ve beaten cancer, there will be nothing in life I will not be able to tackle.”

Chanon, whose studio is based in Chelmsford, added: “Young people seem fascinated by the amount of money celebrities are making by doing things like talking nonsense on YouTube.

“I find it so sad that these are the people they are looking up to when all around them are truly amazing people, the real idols, achieving so much in their lives.

"We wanted to tell these warrior women’s stories in the hope of making young people stop and reconsider who they look up to and admire in life.”

To nominate someone to take part email info@cvphoto.co.uk.