Bowel cancer survivor turned entrepreneur celebrates 10 years in business

A Salford Bowel Cancer survivor has celebrated her fifth year running her own dog bed business.

Carole Duck, 64, from Little Hulton, Salford created her one-of-a-kind dog bed business after beating bowel cancer gave her the confidence to have a go.

Ms Duck was diagnosed with Bowel cancer in 2012, after feeling unwell. She said: “I went for a CT scan, and it came back as I thought I had bowel cancer.”

Due to the amount of weight, she lost during her treatment she said: “I was eating anything and everything.”

However, after treatment she needed to lose weight and bought a puppy, called Harry to help but he chewed everything including multiple dog beds.

She said: “As a puppy, he would chew all the dog beds I bought, so I decided to create something that would last.

“They’re raised beds, on a wooden canvas, and all the fabric comes off for washing. It doesn’t use nails or screws or glue, because it needs to be safe in case it gets chewed.”

Due to being on benefits due to having treatment, she needed to build a bed she could her fix herself, using wood left over from her friend’s extension she built the first dog bed.

Once friends saw Harry’s bed, they wanted one for themselves. After receiving a flyer through post about one off business grants, she applied.

Carole received a £500 grant from ‘do your own thing’ programme in 2013 to start Duxenall Dog Beds. She said: “I had bowel cancer 10 years ago so developing my own business has given me a real sense of purpose for the future.

“I work from home now but my dream and goal is to set up a dog bed factory with onsite childcare, job-share and well-being support so mums can have a proper career. Then I’d leave the factory to my grandchildren one day.”

ForHousing’s ‘Do Your Own Thing’ project helps budding entrepreneurs launch their own business by providing help and advice on how to set up in business and a grant of up to £500 to get started.

Carole, who was formerly a carer, makes her unique product at her Salford home.

Carole sells her dog beds online and by attending craft fairs and markets.

For more information on ForHousing’s Do Your Own Thing scheme visit the website.

Originally published at http://www.salfordnow.co.uk on December 9, 2022.