FORMER MODEL ON HOW FASHION
The former primar y school teacher was just 34 and living in Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, when she was diagnosed in 2016.
Now the mum of two and her family live more than 9000 miles away after being inspired by TV show Wanted Down Under to up sticks and move to Australia.
And she says it was breast cancer – and the confidence she gained from appearing in the 2017 Breast Cancer Care Fashion Show – that gave her and husband Stewart, 39, the courage to follow their dream.
Audrey, 38, who lives just minutes from the beach in Perth, Western Australia, said: “Cancer taught me to real ly appreciate life, go on adventures and stop worrying about the little things.
“The other day I taught my first yike class – yoga and hike – where we enjoyed a beautiful coastal path walk just after sunrise, followed
by a blissful hour of yoga on a little cove beach.
“The feeling of the ocean breeze on your skin as you move through a flow is so grounding and just brings you a feeling of peace.
“As the class was lying down in their f inal relaxation, I looked around at the ocean lapping the shore and couldn’t believe this is my life now.
“We’d a lways fancied moving to
Australia and used to watch Wanted
Dow n Und e r all the time, debating where we would go.
“Then breast cancer came along and, after we had been through such a tough time with my cancer diagnosis and treatment, we were keen for a lifestyle change.
“Breast cancer can be devastating. Some days I’d look in the mirror at my scars and feel like I was broken.
“But, in other ways, breast cancer gave me confidence as I felt if I could go through chemo, I could do just about anything. Now we are living in the northern suburbs of Perth, only 10 minutes’ walk from the beach, which is such a treat, and I’m teaching yoga classes by the beachside. It’s amazing.”
Audrey, who is mum to Eva, 11, and Logan, eight, only took up practising yoga regularly after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Having suffered from depression in the past, she was concer ned her i l lness and the t reatment she needed might take a toll on her mental health.
Yoga helped her both mentally and physically.
She said: “When I was ill, I would try to do a little bit of yoga each day, often using YouTube tutorials.
“I found the yoga breathing techniques helped to keep me relaxed and calm. Simple meditation exercises can improve sleep, focus, concentration and mood swings.
“But it’s a wonderful form of physical exercise too.
“It can be so gentle or really build