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Catra Pegg, who is a textiles tutor at West Nottinghamshire College, was diagnosed in December 2018 and was forced to take a break from teaching to deal with her treatment.

However, dedicated Catra could not give up her passion for textiles and teaching and began hosting weekly sewing sessions at the Bethel Methodist Church – where she continues to support her pupils.

The tutor, who was given the all-clear in December, expects to return to teaching in March but plans to continue running the sessions as a community group, which she is already putting to good use.

Catra Pegg, right, supporting a volunteer at the 'Sewing Bee' event. Image: Carrie Austin.

In a bid to do her bit for the Australian bush fire crisis, Catra organised a community sewing session to create knitted goods for the kangaroos and koalas affected by the wildfires – and the community has rallied around her.

The first session, on January 14, saw dozens of people turn out to support the cause, while textile firms and other businesses chipped in to support them.

She says it was a “fabulous” effort by people right across Mansfield, Sutton and Kirkby – as well as further afield.

“We had people travel from as far as Stapleford and the opposite end of Sheffield to help”, she said.

Firefighters work as smoke rises from a bushfire in Penrose, in Australia's New South Wales state on January 10, 2020. Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images

“Councillors Stephen Garner of Mansfield and Sarah Jane Maddigan from Ashfield both got involved and helped raise awareness.

“Donations also came in from Romo Fabrics of Kirkby and Stevens Sewing Repairs and Supplies of Sutton.

“There was all sorts of fabulous help from the general public.”

Sewers from Sutton group Sewilicious Fabrics hosted a similar event last week to support the cause, and by forming a partnership with Catra’s group have also arranged to be a drop-off point for donations.

Volunteers at the Sewing Bee event. Image: Carrie Austin

Catra says a pick-up of the first batch of items has already taken place, with another one planned next Wednesday (January 22).

She will host another event on Tuesday, January 21, from 4pm until 8pm at the Nottingham Road church.

And her weekly sewing events will run every Tuesday from 6pm-8pm at the same church, from January 28.

Mansfield teacher who beat cancer uses fighting spirit to sew for Australian animals