British sun-loving air hostess dies from skin cancer

An air hostess who travelled around the world working for Virgin and enjoyed topping up her tan on her rest days has died of skin cancer at the age of 25.

Hayley Birch, who had worked in her dream job for Virgin for four years, had jetted all over the world as an air hostess and enjoyed spending her rest days topping up her tan in locations such as Las Vegas, Dubai and Australia. Two years ago Hayley discovered a mole on her leg and was diagnosed with cancer. She died last week. Her mother, Penny, from Solihull, West Midlands, UK, said that Hayley stayed safe in the sun. Speaking to the Daily Express she said, "She probably did have a bit more sun than most people but she was naturally dark and never overdid it. She was always very careful to use protection and made sure she didn’t burn. We have a holiday home in Spain as well and I would often sunbathe with her. We always used suncream.” The cancer spread from Hayley's leg into her groin and then to her stomach, neck and armpits. Despite undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments Hayley was informed earlier this year that her cancer was terminal. Her mother said, “She never once asked how long she had left. She didn’t want to know. She just threw herself into fund raising." Hayley spent her last months organising a fund-raising ball in aid of Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Skin Cancer Research Fund. The ball takes place tonight. After a chance meeting with celebrity chef, Marco Pierre White, he began to back the cause and offered the prize of a cookery lesson with himself valued at £30,000 ($47,789). Mrs Birch says the star was devastated at Hayley's death. "In her last days he was calling three times a day. He was heartbroken when she passed away. She was so strong and inspir­ational to everybody. Everybody was in awe of her." She added, “She’d never done anybody a day’s harm in her life. There’s no justice, no reason to it at all.”