A COURAGEOUS breast cancer survivor from Carlisle is celebrating her recovery by taking part in a special Race for Life weekend this September.
Kimberley Kidd was diagnosed with the disease six years ago, after finding a lump in her breast. The 38-year-old also discovered she was a carrier of the BRCA1 cancer gene – a genetic fault which puts women at an increased risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. Hollywood star Angelina Jolie is also a carrier of the gene.
Kimberley, who is a police sergeant with the Cumbria Constabulary, underwent lumpectomy surgery and had four rounds of chemotherapy to treat the cancer. As a carrier of the BRCA1 gene she also had a double mastectomy to help reduce her risk of developing the disease again and will have an operation to remove her ovaries in the next few months.
Kimberley was hoping to celebrate her recovery by taking part in the Cancer Research UK Race for Life 5K at Bitts Park, Carlisle this August with a group of her friends. She has participated in the event almost every year since her diagnosis in 2014, even running the 5K during her chemotherapy treatment.
However, the Carlisle Race for Life was among 400 mass participation events which organisers Cancer Research UK cancelled this year to protect the country’s health during the COVID-19 outbreak. Now the charity is expecting a staggering £160 million drop in income in the year ahead with a £44 million cut to life-saving research funding already.
To help tackle the devastating loss, undeterred supporters like Kimberley are instead vowing to raise funds by completing their own Race for Life 5K in their nearest green space on Saturday September 26th. They plan to take part outdoors either alone or in small, socially distanced groups – but all on the same day – to help people with cancer.
Kimberley will participate in the new challenge by running 5K in the countryside around the Solway Firth. She is urging people across Cumbria to follow in her footsteps by visiting raceforlife.org and also signing up free for a “Very 2020 Race for Life.”
Kimberley said: “It was a massive shock when the doctors told me I had cancer. My lifestyle at the time was very much about working hard, playing hard, planning amazing holidays and enjoying nights out with friends. I was completely care free and cancer was the last thing on my mind.”
After discovering the lump, Kimberley booked an appointment with her GP and was referred to the breast clinic at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle for an ultrasound and biopsy.
She said: “My life as I knew it was about to come crashing down. The doctors gave me the devastating news that I had cancer and all I could think about was whether I was going to die. I just couldn’t believe this was happening to me. It all felt very surreal, as though I was watching someone else being given the news.
“It was really tough sharing my diagnosis with friends and family, and then going on to start such gruelling treatment. The hardest part of chemo was probably losing my hair, as I had very long thick blonde hair which all fell out. I actually hid for a year because I didn’t want anyone one to see me.”
Six years on from her diagnosis, Kimberley is now free from the disease and is back enjoying life with her husband Andrew.
She said: “I’m very grateful for the medical treatments that saved my life. However, I want to make other people aware that they need to check themselves regularly and see their doctors with any health concerns. My cancer was caught early before it had spread, which made it much easier to treat and means I’m still alive to tell the tale.”
Kimberley has also vowed to support Cancer Research UK’s “Very 2020 Race for Life” to help make sure research into the disease continues.
She said: “Cancer can feel isolating at the best of times but it’s been particularly tough for cancer patients during the pandemic. It upset me to hear that vital cancer research has been delayed this year. Now as lockdown eases, I wanted to put something back. Even though I’ll have to Race for Life differently in 2020, nothing is going to stop me raising money to help beat cancer. I want to reach out to people going through cancer right now, to show that while we may all still be apart, we can unite with a common goal to fund life-saving research.”
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 5K, 10K, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.
Thanks to the generosity of people across the North West, Race for Life participants in the region raised over £2 million last year to support vital research to develop gentler and more effective treatments for cancer – a disease that will affect one-in-two people in the UK at some stage in their lives.
A live broadcast on the Cancer Research UK Race for Life Facebook page at 9.30am on Saturday September 26th, will include an energiser from a fitness expert as well as inspirational messages of support from people who have been through cancer. Participants are then free to set off on their own Race for Life. Organisers are also inviting participants to share photos and videos on social media using the hashtag, #Very2020RaceForLife.
Over 40,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the North West of England. But the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress. Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, the charity currently funds around 50 per cent of all publicly funded cancer research in the UK. However, as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic, promising projects which could have the big answers to cancer are being held up.
Anna Taylor said: “Kimberley’s story is one of hope and inspiration – she is living proof of how research into cancer really does save lives. We are incredibly grateful for her support at what is a particularly challenging time for Cancer Research UK.
“Cancer is still happening right now vital cancer research has been delayed this year. But even though we have to Race for Life differently in 2020, nothing’s going to stop us running, walking or jogging to raise money and help beat cancer. Whatever the hurdle, we’ll keep going and we’d urge as many people as possible in Carlisle to join us for a Very 2020 Race for Life on September 26.
“People can set off from their home to complete 5K their way that day. Whether people are taking part in Race for Life this September in their local park or even in their back garden, they’ll be united by a determination to beat cancer together. This is going to be a very 2020 Race for Life but together we will still beat cancer.”
Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work relies entirely on the public’s generous support. The charity was able to spend over £30 million last year in the North West on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.
Visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770. Join in and share with #Very2020RaceForLife
