Lisa Brown

Running through Cancer.

 Here I am rapidly approaching 50 running 2/3 times a week, the fittest and healthiest I have ever been, being told that I have breast Cancer. My treatment would involve a lumpectomy, 6 rounds of Chemotherapy and finally 4 weeks of daily radiotherapy…a treatment plan that was going to be brutal.

 I run regularly with the most wonderful RunTogether group, MOJO running and Fitness in Sevenoaks. On hearing the news they completely wrapped their arms around me, continuously providing me with encouragement and support. After the lumpectomy, I sat on the injured bench for 5 weeks, feeling battered and bruised, yet I was continuously invited to post run coffees and walks giving me a sense of normality. They made me feel like I was Lisa again, not Lisa with ‘cancer’ and despite not running at this point, I always felt included and part of this special group.

I am currently half way through Chemo and thanks to team ‘MOJO’ I’m back running 2/3 times a week and have completed a 10K and Half Marathon in this time. You see running for me isn’t about competition or PBs, its about sharing a wonderful experience, making friends and enjoying the freedom of having nothing to think about apart from putting one foot in front of the other.

 I still have 3 ‘poisonings’ left and I am told that the tiredness and side effects will have a cumulative effect on my body but I’m still here running and enjoying every second of it ! I will take each day as it comes knowing that I have the support and care of my running friends to keep me going. Running helps us build resilience. To me each Chemo round is like a hill session, it's tough, it hurts but we dig deep and we get there. Running makes you feel strong, alive and less likely to give up when the going gets tough.

 I’m half way to the finish line and still running with my MOJO friends which has made that hill session far easier if not fun!