'Cancer gave me a new zest for life' (From The Northern Echo)

'Cancer gave me a new zest for life'

11:57am Tuesday 6th February 2007 in

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A WOMAN who found a new zest for life after beating breast cancer has set up a communications company.

After working in the media for many years, Anne Sykes decided the time was right to branch out and become her own boss when, at the age of 50, she was diagnosed with the disease.

She had long dreamt of creating her own business, but was spurred into action after having a mastectomy.

She said: "It made me stop and think. It changed how I felt about things and made me realise that you never know when your time is up.

"It certainly gave me the kick up the backside I needed.

"It was my inspiration. I needed to do something different and I thought to myself, 'I can do that, I can run my own business'."

Now, barely two years later, her business, Ten09, has moved into premises in Belasis Park, Billingham, Teesside, and has 36 clients - a list that is still growing.

The name Ten09 is inspired by the date - September 10, 2005 - when Ms Sykes decided she wanted to set up her own firm dealing in media, print, PR and advertising.

Mother-of-three Ms Sykes, who runs the company with friend and business partner Denise Dickinson, said she had no regrets about the decision.

"Since we set up, it has been even better than I had ever imagined and I had a fabulous first year," she said.

"I was lucky as many of my old clients came with me, so I wasn't really starting from scratch. I knew that with these clients, I could survive, but I wanted to get new ones as well."

Business partner Ms Dickinson, who also has a media background, joined Ten09 ten months later.

She said: "I am loving it, I managed to bring my clients with me from radio and can now offer them the complete marketing package."

Some of Ten09's high-profile regional clients include Newcastle-based Winn Solicitors and designer clothing retailer The House.

Ms Sykes said she was keen to establish Ten09 as one of the leaders in its field.

She said: "I am sure I wouldn't have done any of this without the cancer and am just happy to be doing something that I really enjoy."