Maggie on a mission to help others after overcoming cancer to become a nurse
In June 2025 Maggie rang the bell to signify the end of her cancer treatment.
"I refused to be defeated and my goal was clear; I needed to complete my studies and graduate alongside my cohort"
The words of University of Sunderland student Maggie Bennett who has overcome stage 4 cancer to qualify as a nurse and is now looking to give something back to the NHS which provided her treatment.
Maggie, 55, first joined the NHS in 2009 after a long career in retail came to an end. She worked as a Healthcare Assistants at South Tyneside District Hospital and later on the Acute Stroke Unit at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
It was during this time that Maggie, who lives in Hetton-le-Hole, set her sights on becoming a Registered Nurse through the University of Sunderland’s Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship.
She began her apprenticeship in January 2021, proudly joining the cohort as “its oldest student”.
In late 2024, Maggie began experiencing symptoms she believed was a virus. After urgent tests and referrals, she was diagnosed with stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
She began chemotherapy in early January 2025 at the Phoenix Unit, Sunderland Royal Hospital.
Despite undergoing intensive treatment, Maggie refused to give up on her dream and completed her dissertation during chemotherapy and achieved a first.
Maggie joined the Nursing and Midwifery Council register on 12 May 2025, International Nurses Day, and graduated from the University two months later in July.
She has since returned to the Emergency Department at Sunderland Royal Hospital as a newly qualified Staff Nurse.
Maggie said: “No matter what challenges came my way, I was determined to finish what I started.
"I'm incredibly proud to now serve as a staff Nurse and to give my patients the very best care I can.
“The whole apprenticeship team went above and beyond to support me from the day I reached out and said I was not feeling well, right the way through to when I received my diagnosis.
“A special mention must go to my lecturer, Emma Bailey, who helped me 'stay on the same bus' as my cohort and go on to graduate.”
Sue Brent, head of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University, said: “Maggie’s journey is nothing short of inspirational. Her determination, resilience, and unwavering commitment to patient care, even during the most challenging personal circumstances, truly reflects the values of nursing and the strength of our apprentice community.
“We are incredibly proud of her achievement and honoured to have supported her through her studies.”
In June 2025 Maggie rang the bell to signify the end of her cancer treatment.
She said: “I feel a huge sense of gratitude for the opportunity to serve as a Staff Nurse, and I am determined in my mission to provide exceptional care and make a meaningful impact on my patients’ lives.”