Hi all, 

Yours truly, has decided to take part in the most exciting yet challenging task I have ever signed up to! Yes, I will be running the London Landmarks Half Marathon on Sunday 24th March 2019! 

I will be running for Target Ovarian charity as they have done and are doing SO much for women who have had, or are suffering with Ovarian cancer. I am very passionate to be that one extra voice to create an even greater awareness on the importance of early diagnosis and treatment! The money raised could save that one extra life. 

Over 7,000 women a year are diagnosed with ovarian cancer across the UK and 1 in 50 women will have ovarian cancer at some point in their life. At the moment one quarter of women are diagnosed through A&E and more women die of ovarian cancer each year than all the other gynaecological cancers combined. 

Having fought ovarian cancer myself, it was only fitting for me to join Target Ovarian in creating more awareness in various ways! So from now to Sunday 24th March you will only hear me talk about this race! Donate BIG or SMALL and just know that it’s going to a great cause- so that more women can have a better chance in fighting this horrible cancer! 

Thank you in advance to everyone who have supported me in every way in the last 18 months. I just ask you to support me in this journey!

To those who don’t know my story, please read below:

‘ I discovered I had ovarian cancer in August 2017, I sobbed as the oncology consultant delivered the life-changing news, but it still didn’t feel real. I know it’s a cliché, but I never thought something like this would happen to me – especially at such a young age.

My symptoms began to get worse and worse in March 2017. For three months I experienced lower back pain and bloating, but my work as a sales associate was busier than usual, so I put it down to stress and tried to watch my diet. At first, it wasn’t too uncomfortable. As the weeks went by, though, the symptoms grew worse and my back pain became unbearable. Eventually, in May 2017, I went to my GP and I was diagnosed with a bladder infection and given antibiotics. Of course, I trusted my doctor’s opinion and expected to make a quick recovery – after all, I knew bladder infections aren’t usually serious. However, the antibiotics didn’t help and the pain in my back got even worse. I was at a loss as to what was going on. I knew something was wrong, but not for one second did ovarian cancer cross my mind.

To be honest, I’d always brushed it off as something that only affected older women, and I didn’t know anyone who’d had it. In June 2017, I returned to my GP in tears, insisting I had something other than a bladder infection. I was so upset because of the pain in my stomach that I was sent for an ultrasound as well as blood tests and an MRI scan. That’s when doctors found the 20 cm-wide lump on my right ovary. At that point they didn’t know if it was cancerous or not, but I couldn’t get my head around the fact I had something as serious as a tumour. After that, everything moved quickly. Surgeons removed my ovary together with the lump that July. I hoped my ordeal was over, but the following month I was called back in and told that the tumour had been malignant.

The cancer was stage two, meaning it was contained in my ovary, but I would need to have chemotherapy. I was in total disbelief. I was very blessed my cancer hadn’t spread to other organs, but I was told having my ovary removed and undergoing chemotherapy would severely decrease my ability to conceive naturally. So that August, I went to a fertility clinic to have my eggs frozen. The following week I started three rounds of chemo at a double dose.

I finished my treatment at the end of October 2017, and thankfully, just a month later I learned it had been successful – all traces of the cancer had disappeared. Looking back, I see how painfully naive I was. If I had found a lump in my breast, I’d have gone straight to the doctor and demanded a scan. But I had almost all of the symptoms for ovarian cancer – I just didn’t realise it. I wish someone had told me what to look out for. We women know our bodies best, and it’s up to us to put pressure on GPs if we think something isn’t right. But to be able to do so, we must be aware of what signs to look out for. Fortunately, I managed to catch the tumour early, but it could have been a very different story’

If you would like more information on Target Ovarian Cancer please find it through their website.

Love Allison x