AFTER fighting a battle against breast cancer, Lindsey O'Reilly is facing another challenge. The 43-year-old mum of three, of Goodwin Close, Warminster, will be taking part in the Cancer Research UK 10k race at Longleat.

She was diagnosed with cancer in December 2002 after finding a lump in her breast, but is now in remission and doctors have told her they do not need to see her for another year.

At the moment she is busy training for the run on April 2, which is one of five races organised across the country by Cancer Research UK.

Mrs O'Reilly said: "I started going to the gym a year ago to get fit and I saw an advertisement for the run in my gym.

"I had cancer three years ago and it took me a while to get back to full health but a year ago I was feeling fit enough to do something like this. "I'm feeling great at the moment. I've run the distance once in training so I know I can do it."

Mrs O'Reilly said she went into shock when, after a day of tests in hospital, she was diagnosed with the disease. "I was only 40, I had a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter and I'd never known anyone else, friends or family, who'd had breast cancer. It was just a complete shock," she said.

"I had really curly hair but when I started treatment it went dull and was falling out in patches so in the end I told my hairdresser just to take it off. I felt relieved because my hair by that point wasn't me anymore so without it I had no worries.

"If I'd been in the age group that usually get breast cancer, 60 plus, then I probably would have worn a wig but I didn't even consider it. I bought lots of hats but I didn't wear any of them."

She said it was vital more money and awareness was raised for the charity. "It's a cause close to my heart and it's important to find more cures for the disease. "Also when I was ill I spent time at the Fountain Centre in Guildford Hospital. It's a waiting room but it's not like being in a hospital.

"They played music and you could get massages, which I took full advantage of. It would be nice to see similar centres like this set up in other places."

  • For more information visit www.cancerresearchuk.org or contact (08701) 602040.