NORTH Melbourne president Sonja Hood will make a welcome return to the football after being declared cancer free.
In an open letter published on the Kangaroos website, Hood said she had been given the all-clear from specialists after being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, and would attend the club's marquee match against Carlton on Good Friday.
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Hood underwent a mastectomy and tissue reconstruction following the club's announcement of her diagnosis in February.
"Like many other women who have had breast cancer, I'll be on medication for the next five to 10 years to reduce the chances of it coming back," Hood wrote.
"It's been a whirlwind. Although I'm overjoyed at the result, it's been a couple of months I'd prefer not to repeat.
"I also know that if we hadn't found it when we did, this could be a very different outcome. So please, if you need to go and get tested - do it."
North's Good Friday match doubles as a fundraiser for the Royal Children's Hospital, with Carlton this year replacing the Western Bulldogs in the timeslot.
Hood was pivotal in luring Alastair Clarkson to Arden St after the club sacked David Noble in July.
The Kangaroos, who have taken out the last two wooden spoons, secured surprising victories against West Coast and Fremantle to open their season, and sit seventh with a 2-1 record.