Zumba teacher keeps spirits high by exercising in hospital while undergoing treatment for leukaemia

Lucia Alba, from Norwich, is known for her energetic and fun classes.

And the 45-year-old mother-of-two has not let gruelling chemotherapy get her down as she has posted videos on social media showing her dancing while at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) for treatment - even getting nurses and fellow patients involved.

Mrs Alba moved from Mexico to Thorpe Marriott in 2002 and has been dancing since she was four years old.

It was through dance that Mrs Alba first began fundraising, when, in 2011, a friend approached her for help in aiding victims of the Tohoku tsunami, which saw her organise a three-hour Zumba marathon.

Lucia Alba leads a Salsation class in Norwich. Picture: Supplied (Image: Supplied)

Since her first zumbathon, Ms Alba has gone on to organise events for several different causes, including the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind, St Francis of Assisi School and the Ella Grace Foundation.

But now, Mrs Alba, who lives with husband Stuart and sons Charlie and Patrick, is raising money to bring her sisters over from Mexico for a bone marrow transplant as part of her treatment.

Already she has been through weeks of chemotherapy, with many stays in hospital, but the bone marrow transplant would be the next step.

Mrs Alba's best friend, Afton Ward, said the saga started in June.

Lucia Alba, centre, with members of her Fitness Norwich zumba class. Submitted (Image: Archant)

'She started to feel a bit funny, a bit restless, a bit tired,' she said.

'But because we had such hot weather we just said she should have a week off and relax a bit.'

Unbeknown to friends and family, Mrs Alba had been fainting but then she came up in a rash, which Ms Ward said looked like chicken pox.

'It was absolute torture,' Ms Ward said.

The Mile Cross Community Festival. Lucia Alba, front, leads the Zumba event at the festival to raise funds for Nansa and Catton Grove School. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Eventually, Mrs Alba went to a clinic while on a trip away who told her to get a blood test when she returned home.

Ms Ward said: 'Three hours later [after the blood test] the hospital called and said they had found cancer cells in her blood. When she got into hospital her hemoglobin count was 51, it should be between 130 and 140, and they said she had been like a car running with no petrol. They said she should have been dead.'

Mrs Alba was then started on a course of chemotherapy which saw her kept in hospital for four weeks, it was only this week she was allowed to go home.

Now, Mrs Alba needs a bone marrow transplant, with the best chance of a match being her sisters in Mexico.

A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Mrs Alba said: 'The tests cost a fortune in Mexico, plus travel costs to the hospital (a 6 hour drive)and a hotel stay while the test is completed. Then if a match, they will also need flights to the UK.

'We are now hoping to raise enough money to pay for the tests and bring Lucia's sisters over to England for the transplant.'

While in hospital Mrs Alba, who usually teaches up to 20 exercise classes a week, has continued to keep her spirits high.

Videos posted on social media showing her doing Zumba moves, the popular Kiki challenge and the Baby Shark challenge.

Ms Ward said: 'She's adamant that she will do exercise, even if it means doing it from her bed. It's been the party bed, she's had lights and decorations up. It's about keeping her spirits up.

'Lucia is always the strong one, the positive one, the energetic one, the happy one, always ready for a party. Now it's our turn to be strong for her and show her how much she is loved.'

• To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/beat-cancer-and-get-to-zin-con