Jennifer Pittorino
Not many people attempt to run four half marathons in a year, however breast cancer survivor Michelle Rickett is defying the odds and smashing her goals to raise funds for the organisations which have helped cure her cancer.
It has been eight years since Williamstown North resident Michelle was diagnosed with stage three triple-negative breast cancer.
Unlike other cancers, Michelle’s does not allow her to take hormone replacements which means she must produce her own natural hormones.
To keep the cancer away following her radiation and chemotherapy treatments, Michelle’s oncologist told her the best way to stay healthy is through exercise.
“If I exercise I produce the natural hormone that helps stop my cancer from recurring,” she explained.
“So it is basically down to me to stop mine from coming back, and unfortunately triple-negative is one of the highest recurring cancers.”
Backed by research, Michelle’s oncologist said exercise is a highly effective way to prevent the cancer from returning.
However, given how rare Michelle’s cancer is, the research is limited, which is why she is on a mission to do as much charity fundraising as she can between the two organisations which have helped her the most, Cancer Council and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Triple-negative breast cancer is a ultra rare form of breast cancer which is typically hereditary. Thankfully, Michelle hasn’t passed the gene onto her daughters Antonia and Jodie.
“Stage three is as pretty bad as it gets apart from death,” she said.
“So four days after I finished chemo I went for a four kilometre walk with my kids, then I did a couple of five kilometre walks and then I did my first 10 kilometre exactly a year after finishing my treatments.”
Michelle slowly worked her way up to a half marathon and is now on a mission to run four this year.
“I just did my first along the Great Ocean Road and my next will be the Run Melbourne half-marathon,” she said.
“Each time I get to the end and I just think, ‘bloody hell how did I do this?’
“But my motto is if cancer can’t kill me, then this isn’t going to kill me. Running has got nothing on cancer, so I just keep running.”
With each half marathon she completes, Michelle has decided to split her fundraising efforts to donate to all the charities which have helped her with her cancer.
“For my Run Melbourne marathon in July I will be donating to Cancer Council and then for the last two I will be donating to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre,” she said.
“I wanted to split my efforts across the two charities which have really helped me through my treatment.
“I like to make sure that I’m giving back because they rely a lot on people’s generosity.”
Originally from Cornwall, England, Michelle and husband Andrew moved to Melbourne 12 years ago, which she said saved her life.
“If it wasn’t for the amazing medical services here, I would actually be dead,” she said.
“Everything happens so quickly here. I was diagnosed with cancer on a Monday and I was being operated on the Friday.
“I don’t take anything for granted. I always think I am really privileged and lucky to be here.
“And if I lived in England I unfortunately don’t think I would have got the service I did here.”
With her next half marathon less than two months away, Michelle is ready to smash her own time goal.
“I am feeling really good. I have a goal I am aiming for which is what I have been training for,” she said.
“My husband says it’s an obsession, a lot of people can be addicted to some really bad things, all I am addicted to is running.”
Details: runmelbourne24.grassrootz.com/cancer-council-victoria/michelle-rickett?tab=donations
