Determination sees Chris finish race

 

23 May 2005 12:51

It may have taken a fortnight - but determined Chris Fowler finally made it to the finish line yesterday.

Chris Fowler, who was diagnosed with breast cancer nine years ago, had trained for a year to run Cancer Research UK's 5km Norwich Race for Life.

But when the starting horn blew to send thousands of women off on the 5km route around Norfolk Showground at Costessey two weeks ago, Mrs Fowler was not there - still in a hospital bed recovering from a breast reconstruction operation. Determined to complete it and collect her £138 sponsorship money, Mrs Fowler enlisted the help of Cancer Research UK and Center Parcs in Elveden, near Thetford.

Yesterday she and her daughter Mel, 28, set off on a 5km walk around the holiday park, where she was taking a break with her family, at the same time that more than 1900 women took off for Colchester Race for Life.

Mrs Fowler, 56, of Old Buckenham, near Diss, said: "I had a mastectomy nine years ago after I found a lump. I was devastated at the time and was given a 50/50. While I had a slight recurrence five years ago, I have been really well since my recovery. I was in the right 50pc. The time was never really right to have breast reconstruction. I was not convinced it was for me until last year."

Mrs Fowler had a successful operation at the N&N on April 28 but doctors kept her in hospital for another 10 days, which meant she missed the race. "I have done Race for Life before, as I felt I was putting something back to say thank you for all the support I have had.  I had trained to run it and hoped to be out in time. But because my temperature kept spiking, I was kept in. The rest of our team, my daughter, Abbi and Barbara Worland, still went ahead. When I got out, I still wanted to do the race and asked Cancer Research UK if I still could."

The charity leaped at the chance, which meant Mrs Fowler could realise her commitment.

She completed the 5km in one hour and two minutes and ended up raising more than £160.

Mrs Fowler thanked N&N consultant Elaine Sassoon's team for their fantastic work and also the Coltishall ward, whose staff are so skilled and caring.