CoppaFeel: Woman 'blessed' to join breast cancer charity trek

Joanne Cave said she felt "fit and healthy" when she found a lump in her breast

A woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 36 has said she "feels blessed" to be joining a charity trek to raise awareness of the disease.

Joanne Cave is marking five years since diagnosis by taking part in the 100km hike in the Brecon Beacons for breast cancer charity CoppaFeel.

The annual trek will be the first since the death of charity founder Kris Hallenga, aged 38, earlier this month.

Mrs Cave, now 41, from Ossett, will be among 120 people taking part.

Walkers led by celebrity captains will take on five days of trekking and camping through the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales in June.

She said her experience had been tough on her family but she had had amazing support

Mrs Cave said her desire to be as physically fit as possible had rubbed off on her daughter Nieve

The mum-of-two, whose cancer is in remission, said when she applied for the challenge she never thought she would be allocated a place.

"At first I questioned whether I could do it. But then I thought, it's my five-year anniversary and maybe this is meant to be so let's do it," she said.

"I feel blessed I've got this opportunity to take part and raise awareness."

CoppaFeel was set up by Ms Hallenga in 2009. She was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 23 after being turned away from her GP for more than a year.

It is the only breast cancer charity in the UK to solely create awareness about the disease among young people and encourage them to check their breasts regularly.

CoppaFeel founder Kris Hallenga was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2009

Mrs Cave, a social worker, said she was "fit and healthy" when she found a lump in her breast and the diagnosis of grade three cancer left her in "utter shock".

"Probably like a lot of younger people, I left it about six weeks before going to the doctor's.

"I didn't think it was anything sinister and thought maybe it's changes in my hormones."

A week after her diagnosis, Mrs Cave underwent mastectomy surgery but tests showed the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.

She then had a course of chemotherapy, which she described as "the worst part of my journey".

"I just found that horrific. I lost all my hair, my eyelashes, eyebrows and was very, very poorly between each round.

"It was really hard on the children too. My son was six or seven at the time, and he wouldn't let me leave the house bald."

Mrs Cave, who has since raised more than £6,000 for the hospitals where she was treated, said her journey had made her want to "live life to the full".

"It's changed me where I just want to be as fit as I can physically, mentally, so I can live as long as possible."

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She said the hike, which raises money for CoppaFeel, would be even more poignant after the death of Ms Hallenga.

She will be joined by the founder's friends and staff from the charity as well as a host of other celebrities including Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden, who was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer last May.

Joanne Cave has been training in preparation for the charity hike in June

"Doing this at any time would be emotional," she said.

"But the fact we're doing it so close to when the amazing person who set up the charity lost her fight, reinforces how important the message is.

"What the charity does is send out a monthly text reminder to check your boobs.

"I would urge all women to do the same - set a reminder in your phone, or sign up to get the text. Check your boobs - do it in the shower or when you're lying in bed. But just that quick check can save lives."