I was due to run the Manchester 10K on 24 May to raise money for Prevent Breast Cancer.  Due to Coronavirus this has now been delayed until 6 September 2020! In addition to running on 6 September I have decided to run 10k on my own (different route) on the original date of Sunday 24th May that is just 7 days from now.

Big or small your donation matters and will be greatly received.  My target is to raise £1000.  I have almost 300 friends on Facebook so to help me achieve my target I am asking if you would each consider helping me by donating the cost of a coffee to help this wonderful charity.  In addition, please also share my fundraising page to help raise not only funds but awareness of Breast Cancer. 

The charity was founded by my breast surgeon Lester Barr.  Sacha Howell is one of their scientific advisors and also my oncologist.  Both Lester and Sacha looked after me and have been with me throughout my journey ensuring that I got the best treatment for my personal diagnosis. 

My story

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Feb 2018 aged 48.  No one in my family has ever had breast cancer.  It was a great shock.  18 months of hospital appointments, surgeries,  chemo radiotherapy and more surgery followed.   During planning scans for chemotherapy doctors discovered I had a problem with the drainage of my left kidney.  They were afraid the cancer may have spread and  following two surgeries I finally got a diagnosis of endometriosis.  Not great news but better news than we had originally thought.   I had a ureteral stent inserted into the blocked tube to help my kidneys cope with chemotherapy. The stent caused me a lot of pain and we were back and forth to the hospital for scans and checks regularly.  I was hospitalised twice during chemo due to the pain and couldn’t walk far for 12 months but the stent had to stay in and my only option was painkillers.  

In May 2019 I had major surgery for a radical hysterectomy (before all this I didn’t even know there were different types of hysterectomy).  My gynaecologist carried out this part of the surgery and my urologist had  to “cut out” the blocked part of my ureter and re implant it into my bladder.  Recovery wasn’t easy with drainage tubes and catheters for weeks whilst my bladder healed.  Recovering from all the treatment and the surgery I started to feel much better by summer 2019.  Now it was time to get out there and try to get fit.

I started the couch to 5K training in August that year.  I found it really difficult to get to the end and just about managed to get to 5K with a few walking rests on the way.  I had planned to support the charity for some time and thought the 10K would be an excellent challenge for two reasons.  

Firstly, to raise funds and awareness of this horrible disease that came into my life unexpectedly and uninvited, taking control of my every move for the best part of a year.  

Secondly,  to give me a focus to get out, enjoy something new and show myself and Breast Cancer that although it knocked me down I got back up again.  I am making sure that I do everything in my power to stay fit and healthy and keep it out of my life in the future.   I have never been a runner but am now enjoying my new sport.  I have never entered a running race and am looking forward to being able to complete this in September.  

Thank you for your support.

We are the only charity in the UK dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer. Unlike many cancer charities, were focused on preventing, rather than curing. Promoting early diagnosis, screening and lifestyle changes, we believe we can stop the problem before it starts. And being situated at the only breast cancer prevention centre in the UK, were right at the front-line in the fight against the disease.Every year, in the UK, over 55,000 individuals are diagnosed 150 people a day. And every year, we lose 11,500 to this disease. That is 11,500 too many. In fact, it is 55,000 too many. With your support we can help fight this disease together.