But when she suffered meningitis at the age of 10 and spent weeks in hospital, the young Debra knew that it was more than just a game.

"I knew then that I wanted to be a nurse," says Debra.

When she was 18, she trained at Wharfedale General Hospital in Otley where she was to stay for 20 years.

"It was a small cottage-style hospital which meant I got the chance to work in all different areas of medicine from geriatric to paediatric," explains the mother of one.

She also spent time on the female surgical ward where she would look after women with breast cancer.

"It was a general ward and the women with breast cancer would stand out as they would come in quite well and then would undergo surgery and we would send them home. It occurred to me that we didn't know what happened to them once they went home," says Debra.

"I soon realised that once they left hospital there was no support at all for this group of women."

So she and a colleague decided to set up a support group in the Otley area.

"We were overwhelmed with the response we had." But after two years Debra felt she needed to know more about breast cancer to be fully able to help the women. She embarked on a specialised breast care nursing course and the next 14 years were spent in Bradford working with women diagnosed with breast cancer. "It can be a very emotional job," says Debra. "Breaking the news to often young women with young families that they have breast cancer can be very hard and then explaining to them what that treatment means."

At times she found it difficult not to take her work home with her and lost count of the number of funerals she attended. But it is this personal touch which makes Debra stand out and probably why she secured her latest challenge as programme manager for the new Breast Cancer Haven in Leeds. In the post for just six weeks, Debra is now recruiting complementary therapists and counsellors to work in the new state-of-the-art centre.

The Haven is due to open by October in the landmark Gateway building in Leeds.

Although the two-storey Haven is still a building site, you can feel the calm and tranquil place of healing it will become, with rounded walls throughout. "We didn't want there to be any sharp edges," says Debra.

The six individual therapy rooms, group therapy room, kitchen and bathrooms can all be seen clearly.

Each room will be named after a colour to replicate the other Havens in London and Hereford set up by Sarah Davenport. Sarah decided she wanted to fill the gap in the emotional and psychological support of women with breast cancer, after her children's nanny had the disease.

Women visiting the Haven will get a programme of 12 one-hour sessions of complementary therapies, nutritional advice and counselling. "I don't want to be stuck in the office," says Debra. "Patients are what I am about and we want people to feel safe here and supported to get them through some very difficult times."

The Countess of Wessex is the Haven's patron and it is hoped she will travel to Leeds to officially open the centre.

The Yorkshire Haven has been made possible by generous donations from local businesses and individuals. But there is still some way to go. They still have hundreds of thousands of pounds to raise, but are confident they will get there in the end.


How you can help the Leeds Breast Cancer Haven raise its much-needed funds


You can help the Breast Cancer Haven by donating to its Wish List. This includes all the things needed to make the Haven a place where visitors can receive the best possible care.

People can purchase gifts like a dressing gown or a smoothie maker. To help, log onto www.johnlewisgiftlist.com. The list number is 322385, passcode bchleeds. Or you can get involved with Breast Cancer Haven events.

Sunday, August 31: Secret Garden Supper. This exclusive event at a private location will be a night to remember. Call Kathryn Greenwood on 0113 237 3017. Tickets £150.

Saturday, September 20: Last of The Summer Balls at The Met Hotel, Leeds. A celebration of all things Yorkshire with a touch of pink glamour thrown in. Tickets £55. Call Melanie Salter on 0113 237 3017.

October 3-10: Leeds Shopping Week. Breast Cancer Haven are the official charity of Leeds City Centre Shopping Week. There are lots of fun pink events planned for everyone to enjoy.
Keep up to date at www.leedsshoppingweek.co.uk for Shopping Week plans.

Wednesday, October 15: Free Pink Hugs Day at Leeds City Station. Visiting Breast Cancer Haven is like receiving a warm and comforting hug from a friend, so to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the opening of the Haven in Leeds, free hugs will be given out all day at Leeds Central Station to welcome visitors to Leeds. So get dressed in pink and head down for a hug which will put a smile on your face for the rest of the day.

www.breastcancerhaven. org.uk