I love running but over the last 18 months I have been slowly working my way back to fitness following a life-changing breast cancer diagnosis.

On 21st December 2023, I was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer.

It was a cancer I'd never heard of before, and what I quickly learned was that Invasive lobular has quite distinctive features. Imaging for it is unreliable until it is at quite an advanced stage.

My cancer was initially undetected with mammogram, only the ultrasound picked up two tiny specks (8mm and 5mm).

However after an MRI the tumour turned out to be an area of 80mm. I was, of course, completely floored by this.

In February, I had surgery (mastectomy) and although chemo was discussed due to its size , I ended up having radio therapy and as far as we know at the moment , it hasn't spread.

I will continue to take daily hormonal therapy (Letrozole), for at least 5 years as well as monthly injections in my stomach (Zoladex).

I am lucky.

However, after all this treatment, my breast cancer could still come back such is the nature of lobular and that is a terrifying but factual prospect.

As a volunteer member of the lobular Moonshot Project, I am part of a team trying to lobby the government to invest in a specific treatment for lobular.

https://www.lobularmoonshot.org/

The Manchester Breast Centre is working closely with the Lobular Moon Shot Project to establish a programme of research focused on Lobular Breast Cancer to find specific and effective treatments that will benefit patients with this form of breast cancer.

http://www.breastcentre.manchester.ac.uk/

For many years, I've enjoyed running the Man vs Horse marathon relay with friends (fellow 'fillies' pictured here).

This is an annual race that takes place in the Welsh countryside. The race consists of competitors running against riders on horseback across 22.5 miles.

It's fell running at its most extreme!

The photo above is us in June 2023 before my diagnosis.

In June 2024, I couldn't run as I was undergoing active treatment.

This Saturday June 14th 2025, I am planning to run the marathon as a relay once again but for the first time since my diagnosis so I'm trying to raise funds which will go directly to the Manchester University research project.

Over the last year and a half, I've worked my way back slowly to some degree of fitness, but this will be the first time I've raced a distance more than the weekly park run!

It will be tough both physically and emotionally but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Thank you for supporting this project to try to find specific treatments for my cancer.