LIKE many charity runners Siobhan Smith has battled wind, rain and snow in an effort to reach her ultimate goal of completing a 10K charity run.
But none can have faced as many challenges as 38-year-old Siobhan - who has fought cancer four times.
Siobhan, from Penistone, has overcome huge obstacles in her journey towards health and fitness, and running has become an essential part of her recovery from her fourth bout of cancer.
“Learning to run has been life-changing for me. Exercise has helped me cope mentally, and I’ve met some lovely people,” Siobhan says.
It is just eight weeks since Siobhan underwent surgery to remove a tumour from her brain. The operation was the latest in a series of procedures and therapies that the coffee shop assistant manager has had to endure since she was first diagnosed with cancer in her early twenties.
But despite her relentless health struggles, she is more determined than ever to regain her independence and be an inspiration to others diagnosed with the disease.
“I’ve always had a positive outlook on life,” she says. “When I found out there was a tumour on my brain, my first thought was ‘I’ve done throat, breast and lung, I can crack on and do the brain too’.”
Siobhan had moved away from home to start a career as a night club manager when tests revealed she had throat cancer, and she was put on a ‘cocktail’ of drugs which forced her to take 18 months off work. Eight years later, Siobhan was told that she had cancer for a second time.
A lump was discovered in her breast, she underwent three lumpectomies carried out by keyhole surgery. Following her diagnosis with breast cancer, doctors decided Siobhan should have regular MRI scans to monitor her throat, breasts and heart. It was during one of these scans that cancerous cells were discovered in her lung.
Within two weeks, she’d had keyhole surgery to remove a quarter of her lung. An allergic reaction to the surgical cotton meant she was forced to undergo a second operation. Siobhan’s brain tumour was detected in October last year.
“When I was told I had cancer for a fourth time, I felt angry, upset and fed up. But I knew that after everything else I’d been through, I was strong enough to handle this too.”
Siobhan, of Bluebell Avenue, Penistone, underwent exploratory surgery twice, after the tumour changed shape, she decided to allow doctors to remove it. She was not put under general anaesthetic for the surgery, meaning she was awake for the whole procedure.
Siobhan started working at Central Bean at Fox Valley in Stocksbridge a year ago. In January, Mark Dransfield, MD of Dransfield Properties which owns and manages Fox Valley, put Siobhan in touch with Sonia Greaves, a natural health therapist Mark also ‘loaned’ Siobhan his own personal trainer - Katie Ford, who owns Fit4It gym in Tankersley.
She quickly started Siobhan on a training programme to get her ready to complete the Leeds 10K Abbey Dash in November. “Mark said I needed a goal something to focus on mentally. Katie has put such a lot of time and effort into me,” said Siobhan
“In January I’d never run in my life. Now I can run seven kilometres in 45 minutes. When I go out training I don’t think about cancer, drugs or work. It makes me feel so much better in myself. I took a few weeks off for the brain surgery but now I’m back on it. I’m lucky to have friends and colleagues who are happy to join me on my training runs.”
Siobhan is now focused on raising as much money as possible for Yorkshire Cancer Research through her participation in the 10K. She’s distributed collection boxes throughout Fox Valley, and Sandersons Boutique department store has taken on the charity as its official partner.
She said: “I was diagnosed and treated in Yorkshire and now I’m recovering in Yorkshire. I’d like the money I raise to go towards improving the experience of other patients in the region.”
To sponsor Siobhan visit www.ycr.org.uk/fromcancerto10K
