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Most of you already know Clare and Annie. For those who don’t know us, we are great friends brought together by our love of horses and our unfortunate cancer diagnoses. 

We were both diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer called triple negative breast cancer. Annie was diagnosed in 2019 at the age of 29 and Clare was diagnosed in 2017, aged 43. Yes, we are both young women. You see, breast cancer is not only an older person’s disease as typically thought. 

Triple negative breast cancer accounts for 10-20% of all breast cancers and is more common in women under 40. It does not have receptors for hormones, or HER2. This means treatment with hormonal or targeted therapy will not work. Chemotherapy along with surgery and radiotherapy is the most effective treatment for triple negative breast cancer. 

Luckily, both of us found our cancer in its early stages, our treatments were successful and we are now both cancer free. Although we still live in fear of a reoccurrence. 

Unfortunately early detection is not always the case. Young women are often not aware of the risk and may sometimes dismiss symptoms because they are young, as may medical professionals. Other women may not carry out self examinations, or may miss their appointments if they’re of screening age. 

Thanks to amazing work by cancer charities, especially Breast Cancer Now, research is progressing every day meaning that new treatments are becoming available and our hope is that one day soon targeted therapies for triple negative will be available. 

October is breast cancer awareness month and we would like to do our part in raising vital funds to help research continue for all types of breast cancer, so that one day we won’t have to lose another life to this terrible disease. We also hope that our fundraising will help raise awareness that this can happen to anyone, so please get to know your body. If something doesn’t feel right, go get it checked. We must be our own advocates! 

Our horses gave us a sense of purpose during our treatments so we are keen to complete challenges with them, all in the name of breast cancer! We will hack 100km together with our gorgeous horses, Hénri and Frankie, throughout October, whilst wearing pink of course! We know times are hard but we would be extremely grateful if you could support us by donating whatever you can. 

And remember to check your boobs! Early detection saves lives ❤️

All our love, 

Annie and Clare