I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2021 at the age of 45.

The diagnosis came as a complete shock – I had always been fit and healthy. I exercised most days, ate healthily and never got sick. I couldn’t believe that somebody so young, fit and healthy could get cancer.

But it happened to me just like it happens to thousands of women across Ireland and the UK.

I knew I couldn’t change the past, but I could influence the future. I set myself a challenge of becoming even fitter, stronger and healthier to withstand what lay ahead. I decided to put up a fight and live a better and happier life from now on, or what was left of it.

In September I underwent a mastectomy and axillary nodes clearance. As soon as I was discharged from the hospital I started walking and raising funds for the Marie Curie cancer charity. My challenge was to walk a thousand steps on the first day and then do a thousand more every day. I first walked around my garden, then my local park and then … everywhere where my legs would take me. On 30th September, I completed my challenge and walked 31 thousand steps, exhausted, but so happy I’d done it. I walked a total of half a million steps, covered 350 km and raised nearly £800 for Marie Curie. It was an amazing experience. Walking to recovery whilst raising vital funds for an organisation supporting cancer sufferers.

It helped me regain physical strength and build emotional resilience. Life felt so good.

Surgery was really just the beginning of treatment. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy were the options that were considered. I was offered to take part in a clinical trial which meant that I would be spared chemotherapy and only undergo radiotherapy and hormone therapy for 5 to 10 years. The trial aims to establish if hormone therapy could be as effective as chemotherapy for some cancer sufferers. It was not an easy decision to make. I volunteered for the clinical trial and I hope that I made the right decision. Time will tell…

In December, I underwent radiotherapy and despite recovering from radiotherapy and the side effects of the new medication, I was determined to do what I loved doing and continue to set myself new challenges. I refused to be defined by or limited because of my illness. I fell in love with fitness and thought since I exercise so much, I could put these skills to some use. At the beginning of 2022, I signed up for a Gym Instructing course at Belfast Met and followed it with a Personal Training course. In September I qualified as a PT. It wasn't easy, but I needed to prove to myself that I can do it. I am now studying Sports Massage and Exercise Referral. My dream is to work with people who have cancer and other life-limiting conditions.

At the beginning of 2023, I decided to take on yet another challenge. I have signed up for Action Cancer’s 50th anniversary Machu Picchu Trek. It will be an opportunity of a lifetime for me. I would like to give back to an organisation that supported me immensely during my cancer journey.

Action Cancer is a Northern Ireland charity dedicated to saving lives and supporting people through cancer awareness, prevention, detection, and support. It receives no government funding to carry out its functions. That is why initiatives like that are essential to allow them to continue their fantastic work.

I'm planning a number of events and initiatives this year, so watch this page for updates and progress in my journey.

Your donation will be greatly appreciated.