Cancer survivor mum takes on run

Friday 15th June 2012

A single mum who fought an aggressive form of breast cancer is preparing to run a 10 kilometre race in aid of the hospital that supported her.

Lisa Shepley, from High Green, Sheffield, was diagnosed with grade three breast cancer after discovering a lump in her breast.

The 42-year-old mum-of-one underwent a mastectomy and started an 18 week course of chemotherapy at Sheffield's Weston Park Hospital.

Lisa, who is mum to son Chay, 11, went through eight months of treatment before finishing her chemotherapy in February.

Now she is planning to take part in Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity's annual Run in the Park to raise funds to support the specialist cancer hospital that treated her.

She said: "When I lost all my hair during my treatment and suffered terribly with other side effects like sickness, headaches and infections, I lost a lot of confidence.

"This challenge is my way of regaining control of my life, which I feel like has been out of my hands for the last eight months, and proving to myself that I can now achieve something positive.

"Even if I have to walk over the finish line I am determined to complete the race and raise money to give something back for the vital support I was given by the whole team at the hospital during my treatment."

The fourth annual event on July 1 at Graves Park is raising funds for the hospital, which provides cancer treatment services for patients from Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster, Worksop, and Chesterfield.

Participants can choose to take on either the 10k route or the 3k fun run with hundreds of extra places added to this year's event due to its popularity.

Helen Gentle, fundraiser at Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity, said: "Lisa is showing incredible determination to get her life back on track following her cancer diagnosis and treatment, and we are delighted that she has taken on the challenge of the Run in the Park."

To enter the event visit http://www.wphcancercharity.org.uk or call 0114 2265370.

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