What happens when the person who is always there for everyone else suddenly needs people to be there for her?
For Sharon Felton, community has always been a huge part of life. A mum of two, Special Needs Assistant and someone who is rarely far from the next idea or community project, Sharon has spent years helping people around Greystones.
But in 2023, her own life changed.
In this deeply honest episode of Voices of Greystones, Sharon talks about discovering a lump, receiving her diagnosis and facing treatment while trying to keep life as normal as possible for her children. She talks openly about fear, uncertainty, losing her hair, the loneliness that can come with treatment and the determination that helped her keep moving forward.
But this isn't simply a conversation about illness.
It's about people.
Sharon tells Terry about the strangers, friends, family, neighbours and local community who helped her when she needed it — including the lifts to and from treatment that made an enormous difference to her family. And then she explains why receiving that support made her even more determined to give something back.
That led to the creation of the Pink Ball, a local fundraising event which has raised around €37,000 across its first three years for Greystones Cancer Support. Sharon also shares the story of how years of emails, persistence and one rather memorable radio interview eventually helped bring an official Darkness Into Light event to Greystones.
And then there's Take That. ❤️
A lifelong fan, Sharon tells the story of how an unexpected campaign by friends and the wider community led to her meeting the band during her treatment — and why music became such a special part of that period of her life.
Towards the end, Sharon reflects on what life looks like now, what she has learned about strength, and why hope has become such an important word for her.
This is a conversation about difficult moments, but it's ultimately a conversation about people, kindness, family, community and hope.
Every stone has a story. What's yours?
Chapter Timings
00:00 – Introduction to Voices of Greystones
00:31 – Meet Sharon Felton: Life in Greystones and Working as an SNA
03:39 – Deep Roots in Community & Lessons from Her Parents
05:46 – The Tuesday Night That Changed Everything: Finding the Lump
08:49 – Family History: Remembering Her Parents’ Battles
12:56 – Approaching Treatment: Entering Survival Mode & Facing Chemo
16:04 – Everyday Resilience: Keeping Routine for Her Children
18:13 – Understanding the Isolation and Hardest Parts of Treatment
20:25 – The Moment of Overwhelming Fatigue at the Hospital
23:13 – Signs of Hope: Chemo Results and Ringing the Bell
25:33 – Standing at the School Gate: A Milestone Moment for Her Daughter
29:42 – Giving Back: Greystones Cancer Support & Creating the Pink Ball
40:10 – Bringing Darkness Into Light to Greystones
43:39 – What Community Support Really Means in Difficult Times
45:25 – Take That, Late Late Show, and Music as Healing
54:23 – Living Life to the Fullest After Recovery
58:25 – Advice for Anyone Facing a Difficult Health Diagnosis
01:00:39 – Final Thoughts on Community and Hope
","author_name":"High Tide Studios"}