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This time last year Coventry mum Chantel Ward felt her life was going in the wrong direction until she decided “New Year, New Me” and signed up to start her nursing journey at Coventry
University. The mum of three started her Adult Nursing degree in January 2023 after being inspired by the nurses who helped her dad George through his prostate cancer battle during the
pandemic. Her dad has since fully recovered and, as the 47-year-old completes her first year of studying after more than two decades working in other areas, she is hopeful she can help make
a difference to families, just as the staff at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust did for her family. Chantel said: "It was a case of New Year, new
beginning. My dad had been diagnosed with cancer, I had been married for 20 years and I felt like my life was going in the wrong direction. READ MORE: "I wanted to do something for
myself, to achieve something and that is why I decided to start this journey. The treatment my dad received was second to none. It spurred me on to join the NHS and hopefully achieve what
the staff achieved with my dad and make a difference." Chantel’s eldest son also started his higher education journey in September, and she says age is not a barrier to education. She
added: "Going back into education, maths was my biggest fear, but I’ve overcome that now through support from the university. "I’ve found that age does not come into it at all.
Everyone on the nursing course is all on the same journey. "We all come from different walks of life, have our ups and downs, and we support each other." Start your nursing journey
at Coventry University this January. SIGN UP TO OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER HERE FOR ALL THE LATEST COVENTRY STORIES.