Back in the height of COVID 2020 I was in the midst of juggling home schooling my 4 year old and on maternity leave with a 6 month old when I had the shocking news that I had stage 3 triple negative breast cancer. At 29 and with no family history it was a huge shock and a very scary time. Due to the lockdown restrictions all appointments were on my own and surrounded by a sea of masked faces. It was terrifying! I had 6 rounds of gruelling chemotherapy (including a little brush with sepsis) a single mastectomy and 8 rounds of oral chemotherapy all whilst my family waited in hospital car parks unable to go through this together. Months of waving to my children through hospital windows, crying to nurses, hair loss, pain and overwhelming worry whilst my beautiful babies had to see me completely change.

Finally in October 2021 I was given the all clear and sent off to navigate a whole new life after cancer. It hasn’t been easy and I have really struggled with anxiety and my mental health. In November of 2022 I was told by a doctor to take anti-depressants as there was really no other choice to help my mental health but being massively stubborn (my husband will back me up) I said no, got my trainers on and did something that I hadn’t done since pre-cancer; run! So here we are, I’m running the London Marathon 2024. It’s going to be a mammoth challenge but I beat cancer so bring it on! I cannot wait (can someone show me this when I’m crying on a rainy 20 mile run!)

I am so honoured to be running for the incredible Cancer Research Wales. I recieved world class treatment and I want to scream and shout about it! Cancer Research Wales support the best cancer researchers and clinicians to make discoveries which will transform lives. The people of Wales are at the heart of everything they do. It feels so incredibly special to be able to do something that contributes to the invaluable work that they do. I honestly believe we have some of the best health care professionals and cancer specific care in the world and compared to what they do every single day running a marathon is nothing!

This experience means so much to me. I cannot wait to show my children and the children of others impacted by this disease that cancer will not win. We cannot and will not let it win! I cannot wait to see Phoebe, Benjamin and Andrew’s face at the end and to show them what we as a family have got through! That thought alone will get me through those miles.

On my darkest days I never imagined being here today and being lucky enough to do this. I will never be the same Amy that I was before my diagnosis, I’m a hell of a lot stronger and more determined than she ever was. So let’s do this!