A Bristol woman who has been living with stage four ovarian cancer for the past six years has launched a successful business with her husband from her garden shed.
Roberta Henderson, 54, was first diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer in 2016, aged just 48, at this time only one per cent of women with the same diagnosis lived for five years or more.
But Roberta has not only defied the odds but surpassed them and now turned her hobby into a money-making business which has allowed her to quit her job.
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The Shed Collection began when Roberta started making reed diffusers for her family so she could give them personal gifts at Christmas.
Roberta told BristolLive “A Stage 4 cancer diagnosis literally feels like the rug has been ripped out from under your feet. The only thing you can do is pick yourself back up again and do what needs to be done to show it who’s the boss. I’m one of the lucky ones. My husband, family and friends have kept me positive and given me the strength to fight it twice now and I for one have my fingers crossed that the 3rd time is a long time away.”
“I was thinking of Christmas gifts in 2020 and wanted to do something different, so I thought it would be nice to make everyone place settings for Christmas dinner, with their own special gift and I started researching reed diffusers, I wanted to make them from scratch. I wanted to do something really special to be ready for Christmas 2021 in case I got ill again.”
Roberta, who moved to Bristol from Northern Ireland in 1993 says it was her husband Rob who first suggested she turn her hobby into a business.
Rob said: “I am incredibly proud of everything Roberta has achieved over these last 6 years. Her strength never ceases to amaze me. She has remained positive throughout, more concerned about how those of us close to her were coping than worrying about herself.”
”Those who know her, know she doesn’t take no for an answer and it’s that determination that means she is still with us today. This is the first time we will have worked together in our own business and with her by my side I look forward to every new day and adventure.”
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After chemotherapy and with Covid having been around for so long Roberta realised in October last year The Shed Collection was becoming more than just a hobby and for her health she couldn't keep fitting her business around her job as a Training and Operations Manager (Healthcare) across the South West for Apetito limited, the parent company of Wiltshire Farm Foods.
Roberta is now dedicating her time to The Shed Collection, explaining how grateful she is to her former employer for allowing her access to private medical insurance which she largely credits for the still being alive today.
Now solely focusing on The Shed Collection Roberta plans to branch out further into pillow sprays and candles.
"I want us to be the Bristol version of The White Company" Roberta exclaims excitedly.
You can view Roberta and Rob's products at The Shed Collection.
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