Pink lady Sarah crosses the finish line
Sarah Lee (back right) with her friend Helen Senner and mum Judy Rushmere (back row) and friend Andrea Downes and sister Debbie Brooks (front row). - Credit: Archant
Thousands of women dressed head to toe in pink descended on the Norfolk Showground last weekend to do their bit in the battle against cancer.
And among the many faces taking part in Cancer Research’s Race for Life fundraiser, was Beccles woman Sarah Lee and her team of friends and family.
The 44-year-old lined up for the 5k challenge on Saturday, and completed the course in just under 45 minutes, running the whole route as hoped. Mrs Lee has been undergoing treatment for the past four years for lung cancer, breast cancer and now a brain tumour, but was determined to make it to the finish line.
She said: “The atmosphere was just amazing. Apart from a couple of minutes walking I managed to run the whole thing and did it in 44 minutes and 56 seconds.
“I was a bit emotional. I had a few tears as I crossed the finish line. But it was a brilliant day and I am so pleased I did it.”
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Mrs Lee was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2011 and underwent an operation to remove part of her right lung, followed by four cycles of chemotherapy.
In May 2012 she found a lump under her right arm, and a mammogram and biopsy revealed she had invasive grade 3 breast cancer. She had a mastectomy on her right breast and had all the lymph nodes removed under her arm.
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She returned to work again two weeks after the treatment in March 2013, but just under a year later she had a brain scan following a series of bad headaches. She was told that the lump was not thought to be cancerous, but after waiting a few months and following a second scan at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Mrs Lee was given the devastating news that the cancer had spread to her brain.
But despite her battle, Mrs Lee has remained positive throughout and is already looking forward to next year’s event. She said: “I know I’m terminal but I’ve been fighting for four years and am still fighting and staying positive and I still find something to laugh about every day.”
Mrs Lee has raised around £1,000 through sponsorship and donations from customers at Simply Cards in Beccles where she works.
And following last week’s article in the Beccles and Bungay Journal about her challenge, one customer donated £100.
She said: “I would like to thank all the customers from the bottom of my heart. They have been so generous and supportive.”
