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Some of you may be aware that in August 2021 I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Oestrogen Positive Breast Cancer after finding a lump in my left breast. 

In September I had surgery to remove the cancer and through October 2021-April 2022 I had chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The treatment decimated my fitness which was a huge blow as I had been working the previous year to build this up and when diagnosed was the fittest I had ever been and had grandiose plans to take part on the 2022 CrossFit Games open 😝 Instead I signed up for the Hever Starter Triathlon for September 2022. Something to aim towards which might be achievable if the treatment went well.

I tried to keep working out during chemotherapy but it was hard and at best intermittent. I lost my hard won muscles and push-ups. I also lost all my hair but thank goodness for winter and woolly hats and working from home. 

In February 2022 I finished chemotherapy and went back to the Box. It was so hard. Chemotherapy caused me to have a resting heart rate between 120-150bpm. My oncologist reassured me it would get better. For 3 months I wanted to be sick within the first 60 seconds of each workout and often had to sit down because I saw stars! Was I really going to be able to complete this triathlon…who was I kidding I couldn’t even run 200m!

Fast forward…hard work (and a great support crew.. thanks to Alan (Coach) and Neil (long suffering partner who lets me talk CrossFit and triathlon at him) really pays off. The resting heart rate is down to 59bpm and I can run 5k fairly easy. My push ups are back too!

The triathlon is c.6weeks away and I am confident I will complete it. A testament to discipline, consistency, stubbornness and a determination to get back what the cancer had taken from me. My physical and mental health.

 I was lucky I had private health care which covered my cancer treatment so I would really like to give back to a local charity which my Oncologist and Cancer team support as a thank you to them and to hopefully help patients who are being treated through the NHS to receive better treatment options in the future. 

Thank you for your donation :)