A BREAST cancer survivor from Romsey is helping at a charity fundraising marathon in Hursley.
Karen Arney, from Wellow, will be a tail walker for the Breast Walk Ever on Sunday, May 12, following the last walkers and runners with springer spaniel Luna.
A retired GP and mum-of-two, the 55-year-old became the sport’s ambassador for the charity Against Breast Cancer (ABC) after she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer five years ago while training for the London Marathon – 10 years after she was first diagnosed with cancer.
She said: “I initially put the pain down to running whilst wearing a backpack, but it got worse and it turned out to be cancer in my sternum.
READ MORE: Walking event in support of breast cancer research returns this May
“I wanted to make the best of things, so I carried on and ran the marathon and raised money for ABC.”
She now has secondary breast cancer in the form of metastases in the breastbone and nodules in her lungs but is stable and has check-ups every three months.
She continued: “Running and walking have helped me massively. If you are physically fit it stands you in good stead for treatment for any illness, and through running I have built up stamina and endurance. It’s also great for my mental health – when I am running, I leave everything behind.”
Organised by Oxfordshire charity Against Breast Cancer, this will be the second Breast Walk Ever in Hampshire.
Money raised during the event will go to fund research into secondary breast cancer, including several PhD researchers at the University of Southampton.
Researchers and academics from the university will be taking part, while PhD student Grace Hayes, who is researching bone metastasis from breast cancer, will be marshalling at the event for the second year running.
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Grace, who works at the university’s Centre for Cancer Immunology, said: “The funding that ABC provides enables lifesaving work here at Southampton, so it’s a privilege to be able to turn the tables and support their vital fundraising efforts in this way.”
Richard Martin, ABC’s events manager, said: “We are delighted to be back in Hampshire close to where a significant proportion of our research takes place in Southampton. We received lots of lovely feedback last year from supporters who relished the chance to talk to a number of our researchers who were volunteering on the day.”
Breast Walk Ever starts and finishes in Hursley, south of Winchester, on Sunday, May 12. Walkers can choose to complete a 10km, a half marathon (21km) or a full marathon (42km) walk. For more information visit the event website.
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