‘ Within weeks of starting chemo, I went for a run’
Jackie Scully, 37, Greenwich, London
‘I was born with a hip defect, which was finally fixed in my 20s, using metal to hold it together. When I reached my 30s, I hoped to finally get on with life. But at 32, just after becoming engaged to Duncan, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. In February 2014 I had my right breast removed before starting chemotherapy.
‘ Within weeks of starting chemo, I went for a run with my dad. I’d never run before and started almost as an act of defiance against my body, as it seemed to be throwing serious health issues at me. I began running along a path around a park of exactly 209 steps; once I could cope with that, I did more laps of it.
‘Despite losing all my hair, I did my first 10K race in July 2014 before completing my treatment. I did a half marathon a year later, and then the London Marathon. After that, I came up with the idea of marrying Duncan on the same day as running London again, in 2017. We had our wedding ceremony on the Cutty Sark before I headed to the start line in my running wedding dress. It was a fantastic day. I know some people have a very different experience of surgery and chemotherapy, but I discovered running during that period.
‘I’ve turned unfortunate health events into a positive. I still often walk those 209 steps and think that was where I first got my body to run. I’m now celebrating five years of being clear of cancer with Breast Cancer Care fundraising events, including my first ultramarathon. Running’s now part of who I am.’ * For information and support on exercise after breast cancer, download Breast Cancer Care’s BECCA app