KateB

Five years cancer free and I'd have never believed I would be swimming in an ocean race this year

Late last year, I reluctantly joined CanToo to learn ocean swimming and aim for a 1k race this February. I was terrified—barely able to swim 100 metres and never naturally sporty. Ocean swimming felt impossible.

At first, I was the slowest in my group, terrified of open water, and cried as waves pounded me at Bondi. But I kept going, surprising even myself!

Joining CanToo also means fundraising for cancer research, but I delayed asking for support. Honestly, I thought I’d quit, too embarrassed to ask for sponsorship for something I couldn’t do.

Yet here I am, swimming over a kilometre without stopping and loving it.

This journey means so much. Just three years ago, I was battling stage 3 breast cancer, enduring surgeries, radiation, and hormone treatments—all while recovering from two frozen shoulders and a torn bicep that needed two major surgeries and months of physio. I juggled this while navigating the crushing fatigue of radiation, a brutal divorce, living alone, and having to fight to share the care of my two girls. All of this happened during COVID, while I was trying to work and still grieving the loss of my mum, who had also died of cancer just a few years earlier. The last five years have felt impossibly hard and sad.

Cancer turned my life upside down, but it also made me stronger. Now, I swim for joy, health, and to raise funds for cancer research. Cancer affects so many of us, and I’d be truly grateful for your support. ?

I'm supporting cancer research and prevention with Can Too Foundation. 

1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. This means that potentially someone we love may have to battle cancer, and that's a statistic that needs to change. 

So I asked myself, "what can I do to help?" That's where the Can Too Foundation came in! Can Too provides professionally coached training programs for participants of any fitness level to run, swim and cycle their way to a healthier lifestyle and a cancer-free world. 

In return, I am raising valuable funds that go towards innovation in the prevention, care, and control of cancer. Since 2005, Can Too Foundation has trained over 22,000 participants and raised over $30,000,000 to invest in over 150 cancer research grants.

It would be fantastic if you could sponsor me, or even better join me in a program!

Thank you for your support!