In July 2013 I underwent a preventative double mastectomy due to the fact that I have the BRCA2 gene. In order to reconstruct my breasts I had tissue and fat taken from the top of both my legs and it was used to 'build' my new breasts.... Less than a year later I will be running 26.2 miles.

I ran the marathon in 2012 and my aim has always been to run a pre and post surgery marathon but I never envisaged I would be running it within 9 months of my surgery.

My journey to recovery has not been smooth and I suffered complications. In the space of 6 weeks I underwent three surgeries and spent a total of two weeks in hospital but I'M BACK and determined to prove I'm stronger than ever and being BRCA2 will not get the better of me. To give you an idea of the magnitude of my surgery my mastectomy operation lasted 8 hours and I have a 12 inch scar on each leg. My original bruising ran from my shoulders to my knees.

I ran the marathon in 2012 to help me get fit for my impending surgery. However, following my double mastectomy I felt like I would never run again. I struggled to sit in a chair, to walk and running a marathon seemed impossible but as I embark on my training again I want to show the world anything is possible.

Running doesn't come naturally to me, far from it. The thought of a long run makes me want to cry and the thought of doing the marathon again and the training it entails fills me with fear but I feel like it would be the ultimate comeback and will hopefully show other women with breast cancer or having preventative surgery that pain is termporary and your body will get stronger. 

For details of my marathon plight and for a more detailed look at my life with BRCA2 please look at my blog where you will find details on how my training is going and how I felt pre and post surgery. There is also a special account of my time in hospital.

www.breastcancercampaign.org/charlottesblog

Please give generously to my cause as my aim, by raising money is to stop my daughter having to have this same surgery. If you are interested in holding a fundraising event for me please email me at charlottepittuck@hotmail.com