“We weren’t going to let cancer stop us from spending precious time with our family at Christmas.” – Claire and Mohan’s experience

When Mohan Nagaraj moved to Leeds from India in August 2022, he could not have predicted how quickly his life would change.

Shortly after starting a new role in the city, he met Claire Charlton from Gildersome at a work Christmas gathering in December 2022. After they started working together on a project in December 2023, the pair discovered they had a lot in common, and a friendship soon grew into something more.

Mohan said: "I quickly realised just how similar we were. We share the same values, especially when it comes to family. While I'm no longer physically close to my family in India, they remain such an important part of my life. Claire has an incredibly strong bond with her mum and sisters, and that meant a lot to me. Because of that, and so many other wonderful qualities, I knew she was the person I wanted to be with."

That Christmas marked the beginning of a relationship that would transform both of their lives and make the festive season a particularly meaningful time of year.

Now, four years later, Mohan and Claire are supporting Yorkshire Cancer Research at Christmas by taking part in the charity's first supporter-led fashion show at its superstore in York. The event will feature 15 people affected by cancer from across Yorkshire modelling outfits sourced from Yorkshire Cancer Research shops, representing the fact every 15 minutes someone in the region is diagnosed with cancer. 

For Claire and Mohan, the fashion show is an opportunity to celebrate the strength of their relationship and reflect on everything they have experienced together.

In May 2024, while they were busy building a future, Claire received difficult news about her health.

For some time, the then 37-year-old had been feeling unwell. Previously active and interested in fitness, Claire found herself becoming increasingly tired and struggling with muscle pain and swollen joints. She visited her GP several times to discuss her symptoms, but it was a routine dental appointment that first raised concerns something more serious might be wrong.

During the appointment, her dentist noticed a lump in her neck and urged her to get it checked as soon as possible. Claire was referred to Leeds General Infirmary for an ultrasound and biopsy.

Claire said: "I attended the scan alone after work and honestly hadn't really given it much thought beforehand. I went in expecting reassurance that everything was fine and came out having received life-changing news. 

Shortly after the scan, Claire's consultant confirmed she had thyroid cancer. In July 2024, she underwent a six-hour operation to remove her thyroid gland and 32 lymph nodes, more than half of which contained cancer.

She continued: "The results from my surgery showed I'd been living with cancer for quite a long time and, because of that, I would need intensive treatment. Mohan and I were still in the relatively early stages of our relationship, and I didn't want him to feel like he had to stay and go through all of this with me."

For Mohan, the diagnosis transformed their relationship overnight. 

Claire said: "He was present every step of the way and I don't know how I would have done it without him. Looking back, it feels like we met at exactly the right time. I am so grateful to have had him there with me."

The months that followed became a cycle of scans, hospital appointments and treatment which left Claire experiencing high levels of fatigue and often unable to leave the house. Mohan took time off work to care for her, making sure they got outside for fresh air on the better days and supporting her through the days when exhaustion from treatment left her unable to get out of bed.

In October 2024, Claire underwent radioactive iodine treatment to remove the cancerous cells from her thyroid and neck. However, in December 2024, shortly before Christmas, they learned the cancer had returned.

Claire said: "We were told the treatment hadn't managed to remove everything. It was devastating news and completely changed what we thought the future might look like."

With uncertainty hanging over them, the couple decided not to cancel a planned family trip to Lapland that December.

Claire said: "We thought about cancelling but agreed it wasn’t right. We weren’t going to let cancer stop us from spending precious time together with our family at Christmas.

Surrounded by family, they watched Claire’s niece and nephews meet Santa, played games and created memories that would help carry them through the difficult months ahead.

Mohan said: "That Christmas was incredible. What mattered was quality time. Being present with one another was so important."

Claire's family, including her mum and two sisters, have been another constant source of support throughout her diagnosis and treatment. Mohan, meanwhile, has found himself embraced by a family that has quickly become his own.

Mohan said: "Claire's family have become my family. They have all done an incredible job of showing up during the hard times while keeping us positive, making us laugh or being a shoulder to cry on. The family bond they all have is amazing. 

"I'd never experienced a true British Christmas until meeting Claire, but now I love it. The roast dinner and playing Uno are my favourites. It's all about being together." 

In March 2025, Claire underwent a second operation. While treatment and appointments continued, Mohan knew there was one important thing he wanted to do. In July 2025, he proposed to Claire on London's Tower Bridge at sunset.

Claire said: "Even though I've gone through these really hard things, there have been so many amazing moments woven through it all."

The couple married in India in November 2025, bringing Claire’s and Mohan’s family together for a traditional Indian wedding celebration.  

Unfortunately, shortly before the wedding, in September 2025, scans had revealed the cancer had returned.  

Claire continued: “We got married knowing I was coming back to more treatment, but on that day, nothing else mattered except being together, knowing we could get through it."

Following the elation of their wedding day, the couple returned home and received difficult news a month later that further surgery would be needed and warned that Claire's vocal nerve would likely need to be removed.

Claire said: “I was told the surgery would likely affect my voice, breathing and swallowing. Finding out I may never be able to speak the same was one of the hardest conversations I’ve ever had to have. The wait for surgery was then even harder, spending months not knowing what would happen.” 

Mohan said: "The surgeons and treatment were excellent, but emotionally it’s been so difficult with the waiting and not knowing. I’ve tried my best to stay positive and strong for Claire, but it’s hard when you don’t know what’s next.”  

When Claire finally underwent her third surgery in May 2026, surgeons were able to remove the cancer while thankfully keeping the vocal nerve intact.

Claire said: “It was a huge relief. Things are looking stable and my blood results are improving. Of course, the worry about it coming back continues, but I’m trying my best to stay positive.”

Throughout everything they have faced, Claire wants to raise awareness that thyroid cancer often receives less attention than many other cancers. 

Both Claire and Mohan believe research has a critical role to play in improving cancer diagnosis and treatment. This year, Mohan joined the Yorkshire Cancer Research Influencers, where he shares his experience of cancer to help guide the charity’s life-saving work and ensure it reflects the needs of people affected by cancer across the region. 

Mohan said: “Having been through everything we have, I wanted to give something back. As an Influencer, I can use my experience to help improve the lives of people affected by cancer in Yorkshire. I hope to help the charity better understand some of the challenges we’ve faced and how things could be improved in the future. 

“When we found out how advanced Claire’s cancer was, we couldn’t help but wonder how long it had been there. I hope Yorkshire Cancer Research can continue working with healthcare professionals to find better ways to detect cancer at the earliest possible stage.” 

Claire said: “The Bexley Wing at St James’s Hospital in Leeds is a centre of excellence, with incredible oncologists and endocrine surgeons who have given me complete confidence in my treatment. My cancer nurse, Kathy, has also been a constant source of support. 

Today, despite the uncertainty of Claire’s cancer diagnosis, she and Mohan continue to focus on what matters most: spending time with loved ones and making memories. For Christmas this year, they are planning a family trip to the Netherlands. 

For Claire, the perspective of trying new things has become more important than ever.

She concluded: “I’ve had some incredibly difficult moments, but alongside them I’ve found love, celebrated a proposal and a wedding, visited Lapland and been surrounded by people who never stopped showing up for me. That’s what I choose to focus on.”