PRESTON student Sharon Fraser has beaten the odds to achieve her dreams of a university degree.

After seven years of part-time study and sheer determination she graduated with a 2:1 in Employee Relations and Women's Studies rom the University of Central Lancashire.

Two years into her degree Sharon, 48, was diagnosed with breast cancer, and was admitted to Christies Hospital in Manchester.

Despite going through a mastectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Sharon did not give up and only missed one lecture.

She said: "Although breast cancer's a terrible thing it's something no-one else can see, and I was glad to be able to carry on through it."

Two years later, Sharon's youngest son Kevin was involved in a car accident when the Volvo Estate that he was driving hit a lamp-post.

Kevin sustained massive chest injuries and oxygen to his brain was restricted, leaving him with brain damage.

He was given a 50 per cent chance of survival and spent nine months in hospital. Throughout the time that Kevin was in intensive care, Sharon sat with her books on his bed. She added: "I had so much nervous energy and adrenaline. University keeps life normal through the hardships.

"Getting my degree and having all my family around to see me do it has made me so proud. I want people to know that the hardest part of doing a degree is getting started. If I can do it anyone can."

Sharon has recently undergone a six-hour operation to reconstruct her breast from muscle taken from her stomach, and has just found out that after five years of being clear of the cancer she is now officially 'a survivor.

Kevin has celebrated his 21st birthday and although he has had to learn everything from scratch he is on the road to independence.

Sharon continued: "Life throws these low bowlers at you and so long as you can bat them off and give them a fix you can do all right."