I've raised £2000 to help raise funds for Breast Friends in Essex and Suffolk
Organised by Louise Quinn
Story
On Sunday 18th September I am aiming to complete the Weymouth 70.3 Ironman race, comprising a 1.9km ocean swim, a 90km bike ride and a half marathon run (70.3 miles in total) and raise funds for ‘Breast Friends’, a local organisation, which provides a menu of holistic care and support services for women affected by breast cancer.
Although I’ve always enjoyed running, cycling and swimming, I'd felt no compulsion, since early adulthood, to race or push boundaries in these disciplines. However, the lead up to this ultimate challenge comes exactly 7 years after losing my identical twin sister to breast cancer, whilst I was simultaneously fighting my own battle with the disease and, from then on, that notion entirely changed; running and cycling became an avid addiction, providing physical and mental solace in the aftermath.
As individuals, we each have our own coping mechanism when faced with a cancer diagnosis; urgent, life-saving surgical and medical decisions have to be made and the magnitude and uncertainty of all this can leave patients feeling very frightened and lonely. Two former breast cancer patients, Caroline and Janine, felt this overwhelming sense of fear and isolation during their breast cancer journey, not knowing anybody in the same boat with whom they could chat, share their experiences and seek reassurance when faced with any anxieties. After being introduced to each other last year, they joined forces to create ‘Breast Friends’, with a fierce determination that, in future, women would not have to suffer the same traumatic roller coaster ride of emotions and feel quite so alone, in the same way that they had. Attached below are their website and video links, detailing the amazing support services they provide, their achievements to date, as well as wider plans they have going forward and, to this end, I would like to play a part in helping raise vital funds to ensure that Breast Friends is able to continue offering these invaluable and much sought after services well into the future.
Caroline, Janine and I were brought together by our breast reconstruction surgeon, Mat Griffiths and it is with Mat that I am training and competing in this Half Ironman race. As regular cyclists and runners, we are now eagerly anticipating, albeit with some trepidation, this formidable upcoming challenge which, over the last couple of months, has taken us both out of our comfort zone, training in a lake for the open water swim. We’re also more than aware of the many testing hills throughout the 90k ride. So, whilst we’d love to achieve a few PBs, our main objective is to reach the finish line, still on both feet and before the sun goes down!
Many thanks for taking the time to read my story, which helps to explain why fundraising for this particular cause is very close to my heart. Your donation to Breast Friends, however small, will go such a long way in helping so many women, like myself, and will be very much appreciated.
