This weekend Sarah Pilling, who was diagnosed with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer at the age of 36, is attempting to run more than 100 miles from Hunstanton to Southwold. Here, Sarah explains why she wants to raise funds for Big C Cancer Charity
I’m Sarah, a 45-year-old mum of two boys and I live in the South Lakes. I work as a community physiotherapist based at Royal Lancaster infirmary.
I was 36 and it was my eldest boy’s 6th birthday the day I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. It was a complete shock but all I could think about was that I had a birthday cake to make! I had chemotherapy and multiple surgeries but was so well looked after by the team of doctors and nurses that supported me as well as my wonderful friends and family.
After treatment finished we took a few months out with the boys to go travelling around Europe in our camper van, riding bikes, swimming and having some much-needed time together. It was whilst we were travelling, inspired by the fantastic care I had received as a pt that I made the decision to return to university and retrain as a physiotherapist. It was a pretty big challenge as I was still undergoing surgeries and studying during Covid, but I was so supported by my family it felt fantastic to finally qualify.
I started working as a rotational physio at Royal Lancaster infirmary after I qualified. I soon fell in love with community working and particularly working with patients with cancer. Three years ago, I joined the community therapy team, and I now work with a wonderful team supporting patients after they’ve had a hospital stay and helping them improve their quality of life. We support a variety of patients including those living with cancer and see patients at all stages of their cancer journey. It’s wonderful to feel like I have the opportunity to give something back.
I took up running during Covid, starting with Couch to 5K and progressing to running laps around a deserted Lancaster University with the boys on their bikes. When my brother suggested I take on running the Manchester Marathon with him a year or so later I undertook my first attempt at marathon training. Since then, I’ve fallen in love with trail running. My husband and boys are mountain bikers and when I could no longer keep up with them on a bike, I started running in the mountains meeting them on route as we travelled around Europe each summer. As my fitness improved, I began thinking about how much difference being active meant to our family and I was keen to encourage others to do the same. I grew up in Norfolk and my family are still based there. I often run in the Lakes but wanted to do something that would give me a chance to include my family and to explore more of the places I’d been growing up. The challenge kind of grew from there. My parents are chief supporters in their campervan, and I’ve got family and friends running parts of the course with me. Two of the OTs from my team are also headed to Norfolk to take on part of the challenge.
Being active supports not only physical but also mental health. As humans we’re not designed to sit still all day and it’s often just about finding small ways to get moving, finding a form of activity that makes you happy and choosing to make that part of your daily life. In my opinion Being active in whatever form is one of the best things you can do for yourself to not only help prevent cancer but also to aid recovery and reduce risk of recurrence. Something however small is better than nothing!
Big C is an important charity to me because I’m from Norfolk originally and my family all live locally, so I know what an amazing job they do to support cancer patients. When I was diagnosed myself, I was living in Lancashire and I had wonderful support from several charities but none of them offer the same level of incredible holistic care in physical support centres that Big C delivers. The Norfolk community is very fortunate to have an organisation like Big C Cancer Charity and so I want to do what I can to support the charity.
Sarah Pilling is fundraising for Big C
Featured images of Sarah Pilling – supplied
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