A young mother of two is preparing to walk a gruelling 26.2 miles while undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Rebecca Mayhew, from Woodton, was diagnosed last August and has already endured a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

But before she embarks upon further treatment, the 34-year-old is finding every bit of strength she has to complete London’s MoonWalk to symbolise her fight against the disease and to raise awareness for other young women.

Rebecca, a chartered surveyor, who works at Durrants Auction Rooms in Beccles, said: “You hear about young people getting cancer, but you don’t think it’s going to be you.

“I found a lump in my right breast, I went to the GP and they sent me to the hospital. I saw the consultant and within two weeks I had the first operation and I had the second in September.”

Doctors found two small tumours, one of which was quite aggressive.

Although Rebecca is now more than halfway through her treatment she will receive the Herceptin drug through a drip every three weeks for the next year to reduce the risk of cancer returning.

She also faces a second mastectomy and breast reconstruction.

She said: “It’s been a really horrible nine months, but you can’t think about it on a daily basis as you would get depressed, in some ways its easier with children as I haven’t got time to think about it so much as I’ve got to be mummy.

“I’ve just tried to laugh all the way through and you realise you have got to stop worrying about the little things.”

Rebecca is taking on the overnight power walk with her sister Rhian Westcott next Saturday, May 11, dressed in a decorated bra to raise money for Walk the Walk, a grant giving breast cancer charity.

This year there is a space theme so the sisters are preparing to find Princess Leia wigs and decorate their bras with sequins.

Rebecca’s children Jack, two and Isobel, four, have been helping her get into training with Isobel riding her bike alongside her mother while she is walking.

Rebecca said: “I want to raise as much money as possible, but I’m also doing it for me, I just want to finish it. I want to make myself fitter and stronger than I ever was before.

“I always push myself so I hope to do it in seven-and-a-half hours. Next I want to run the London Marathon or the Over the Moon walk, which is the MoonWalk and back again.

“I think at the end I’ll feel exhilarated, relieved and there will probably be sobbing. I think it will be a brilliant way to release a lot of tension and hopefully someone I know will be standing at the end with a bottle of champagne.”

Once she has recovered from the marathon Rebecca’s next goal is to raise money for the Targeted Radiotherapy Appeal for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

The appeal is going to be Durrants charity of the year and the auction rooms will be holding an online charity auction later in the year to raise funds and awareness.

Rebecca said: “I’m determined to do as much as I can in order to raise awareness of breast cancer, particularly in young women, and of course, raise as much money as I can to help the hospital continue the amazing work it does.

“Life is extremely precious and I don’t think you always realise it. You always think it is going to happen to someone else.

“It’s not a fallacy, its not someone trying to scare you, checking yourself is so important. I want to do something every year to try and fight it.”

To sponsor Rebecca visit the auction rooms in Peddars Lane, Beccles, or visit http://www.walkthewalkfundraising.org/rebeccas_pink_ladies

More information about the Targeted Radiotherapy Appeal can be found at www.nnuh.nhs.uk