Lorna Pirozzolo signed up for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life despite not being an experienced runner and has convinced her friends and colleagues to join her on Sunday.
The 42-year-old air traffic controller said: ‘When I found out I had stage-four breast cancer which had spread, I needed something to focus on. I’ve never been a runner, but I know exercise is important, so I started to train.
‘One by one I started guilt-tripping my friends into joining me on the grounds that if I could do it, so could they.
‘Now we have a 12-strong team – including one man – which is named “Legs Miserables”, inspired by Victor Hugo’s connection with Jersey.
‘Race for Life will only be five days after my next cycle of chemotherapy, so my plan is to alternate between walking and running. But really this is about raising money for research and awareness.’
Mrs Pirozzolo was first diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lump in March last year, just nine months after getting married to her partner Joe (41), who works at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
‘We joked about it at the time, saying you always find things are faulty when the warranty runs out,’ Mrs Pirozzolo said.
‘I always had a gut feeling I was going to get cancer fairly young. My mum has had breast cancer twice – so I have always checked myself.’
After many tests, doctors confirmed she had stage-three breast cancer and she then underwent chemotherapy and surgery.
However, on New Year’s Day she found another lump and was told the cancer, which had progressed to stage-four, had spread to her lymph nodes and was treatable, but incurable.
She said: ‘So now I find myself very happy, with a great life, a wonderful husband, friends, family, in-laws, colleagues, a fantastic employer – but with a pesky cancer in the background that affects aspects of my life.’
To enter the Race for Life, visit raceforelife.org, or call 0300 123 0770. To sponsor ‘Legs Miserables’ visit: fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/team/les-miserable-lorna-pirozzolo-friends.
