7:44am Friday 2nd July 2010
By Sarah Jones
A HAMPSHIRE GP is spearheading a charity fundraiser after she became the third mother at a village school to be diagnosed with breast cancer within 12 months.
Karen Arney, 42, is currently undergoing radiotherapy after she found a cancerous lump last November.
Along with other parents, she will join children at Wellow Primary School today at a special “Little Legs for Life” event to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
The pupils will complete a sponsored 180km relay run – equivalent to the length of 2,000 football pitches – before taking part in a mass balloon launch.
Parents and friends have been invited to run or walk a lap of the field after the relay.
The other two mums diagnosed with breast cancer – Helen Rogers and Kim Sanderson, who have both now finished their treatment – will join Karen at the event.
“Besides raising money for Cancer Research UK we hope to raise awareness about breast cancer,” said Karen, a locum GP who works in Totton. “It’s very important to act straight away. Women should check their breasts regularly and if they find anything untoward, go and get it checked out. It is not something that will go away.”
Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in this country, with one in nine women predicted to develop the disease during their lifetime, according to Cancer Research UK.
Amongst a number of factors, Karen believes the widespread use of contraceptive pills that contain oestrogen could possibly be partly to blame for the soaring rates of breast cancer.
Too much oestrogen can wreak havoc amongst cells by speeding up their growth and multiplication – and is believed to sometimes cause breast cancer.
“You do wonder whether the more common use of the contraceptive pill is part of it,” said Karen whose daughters Siena and Gabriella both attend Wellow Primary.
The fundraising will continue on Sunday, July 11, when Karen and 41 other mums from Wellow will dress up as Morris dancers to take part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life on Southampton Common.
n To donate money to the Little Legs event, contact Wellow Primary School, Romsey Road, West Wellow, tel: 01794 322201.
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