A charity worker who has devoted her life to the needs of others is the winner of our Ten Years Younger make-over competition. Mary Newsome, 53, from Holmfirth was nominated by a close friend who says: “She’s a beautiful person with a big heart and always there when you need her.” Hilarie Stelfox reports

MARY NEWSOME knows what post-natal depression feels like because she suffered from the crippling condition after giving birth to each of her three sons.

It’s one of the reasons why today she is a voluntary secretary and press officer for the Joanne Bingley Memorial Foundation, the Huddersfield-based charity founded after the 39-year-old Fartown mother who took her own life while suffering from severe postnatal depression.

“In my case the postnatal depression went undiagnosed,” says Mary, whose sons Alistair, Edward and Lawrence are now 18, 21 and 24 respectively. “And the terrible shame of it all is that as a condition it is so treatable. People do recover from it.

“But it’s really important to get treated quickly so that it has less impact on the family.”

A former civil servant, until last year Mary wrote guidelines and information on occupational health for the NHS.

But increasing work pressure led her to resign in order to set up her own business as a writer and researcher on mental health issues.

As a self-employed single parent, Mary has little time or money to spend on herself. It’s why her close friend and former neighbour Lesley Robinson, also from Holmfirth, decided to nominate her for our Ten Years Younger makeover competition.

On offer to the winner was a course of “I Wish” facial and massage treatments from beauty therapist Jill Yvette at her Crosland Moor salon; a selection of Gernetic skincare products; £150 of clothes from the Phase Eight range in Huddersfield’s House of Fraser; and a new hairstyle at the Mark Riley salon in Byram Street.

“My pal Mary is always cheerful, despite having lots of adversity in her life over the years,” said Lesley, who has known Mary for 16 years.

“She left her job in May 2010 because of stress and office politics. Instead of staying at home and licking her wounds she was determined to help others suffering from stress and depression. I can’t think of a better person to be nominated for some TLC and pampering.”

And so Mary was booked in for three sessions of Jill’s new treatment, which she calls a “full body facial” and combines a skin-enhancing facial with body massage and complimentary therapies. The two-hour treatments are designed to fully relax both mind and body with the aim of making the client feel 10 years younger.

At the start Jill asked Mary what she wished for: “I said I wanted to feel more confident, be calmer and have more energy.”

And she was surprised that even after the first treatment she felt happier.

“I slept better and I’m not letting things worry me as much,” said Mary.

The facials have also improved her skin tone. “Mary suffered from rosacea and her skin was quite red and irritated,” explained Jill.