A TEACHER who has chosen to have her breasts removed to reduce the risk of developing a disease that could kill her has joined several celebrities in a canoe challenge to raise awareness of cancer.

As previously reported, Josephine Torrington, 31, has lost several members of her family to the disease – most recently her mum, Sue, who died in March from ovarian cancer.

Her grandma, great grandmother and two aunts have also lost their battles with disease.

And now the teacher is determined to do all she can try and stop the cancer that has ravaged her family from potentially taking her life too.

She has joined Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton in a canoe during Stand Up To Cancer’s Great Canoe Challenge which aims to inspire people across the UK to raise money for game-changing research into the disease.

Starting in Chester earlier this week, the oar-inspiring rowers are navigating the canals and lochs of Warrington and Manchester before finishing at Liverpool’s Albert Dock on Friday.

A host of celebrity supporters are taking part as well as cancer survivors and those who have been affected by the disease.

A joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4, Stand Up To Cancer aims to speed up the translation of incredible scientific discoveries into innovative cancer medicine, tests and treatment.

Jenny Makin, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for Hampshire, said: “We are delighted that Josephine is taking on such an epic challenge for Stand Up To Cancer.

“The Great Canoe Challenge aims to inspire people to join the rebellion against cancer and raise funds for life-saving research. Our team of heroic paddlers will be joined by an army of celebrity supporters as they power their canoes towards the finish line.

“We’re calling on people to show their support and help fund game-changing research. Money raised will fund cutting-edge research that accelerates new cancer treatments and tests to UK patients to ultimately save more lives. One in two of us in the UK will develop cancer in our lifetime, so now is the time to act.”

Other celebrities due to take part include Made In Chelsea's Sam Thompson, Googlebox's Nikki Tapper, and actress Hayley Tamaddon.

It was in February this year, as Josephine cared for Sue in the last weeks of her life, that she discovered she was a carrier of the BRCA1 gene mutation.

The “faulty gene” can be passed on through generations of families and significantly increases the risk of developing cancer.

For Josephine, from Gosport, it meant an 80 per cent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer and 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer.

The keen sportswoman said: “I feel compelled to do all within my ability to raise awareness. I wish to be an advocate for families living with a history of cancer, so they might be aware of their choices if they too are at high risk.”

After having her breasts removed, Josephine will have to decide whether or not to have reconstructive surgery.