When I was 16 my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She fought it, she won and she got on with her life.  Or so we thought.  A chance meeting with a geneticist at a support meeting changed everything. 
After describing her family history of cancer he suggested that she have a genetics test to see if she was a carrier of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 cancer gene mutation which would mean an increased chance of getting breast or ovarian cancer.  Her test came back positive.  This meant that my brother and I had a 50/50 chance of also being carriers (you either inherit it from your mum or dad).  We both came back positive.  This meant that in my lifetime I had up to 90% chance of getting breast cancer and a 50% chance of getting ovarian cancer.  Not great odds however you look at it!  I was not going to wait around every year to be screened and hope for a positive result so I decided to have risk reducing surgery in the form of a double mastectomy and immediate reconstruction.  So in March 2015 I had my first operation, followed by 6 weeks recovery.  In June I had a second operation to put in the permanent implants and a final operation in April 2016.  So three operations, two implants and one year later I am all done and can get one with my life.

Well, mostly.  I have a 6 year old daughter who also has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the gene mutation from me.  If she is unlucky, like me, she may have to go through the same process I have.  So for me, the work that Cancer Research does is vitally important if she is to avoid the same painful operations and stress and anxiety that I have had to go through.  

I saw an advert for a race for life event in aid of cancer research UK and thought “that sounds like fun!” (what was I thinking!).  I somehow managed to convince 8 other insane) colleagues to participate with me….

So on Saturday 2^nd July the “HAH Hurricanes” consisting of myself, Laura Rankin-Smith, Rebecca Clarke, Sophie Brindley, Vanessa Skelton, Sarah Bannister, Denise Pudner, Stephanie Harrison and Rachel Dixon will be taking part in Pretty Muddy, a 5k course where we will run/walk/fall over a series of obstacles covered in mud.  I think I may have 8 fewer friends on the 3^rd July….

I'm joining Cancer Research UK's Race for Life this year. Please join the fight by digging deep and sponsoring me - it's quick, easy and totally secure.

Events like this are vital in funding Cancer Research UK's life-saving work into preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer. By sponsoring me, we can unite and create an army that cancer can't ignore. By sponsoring me, we will beat cancer sooner.

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Sponsor me now, and help me show cancer that hell hath no fury like a woman in pink.