Kenilworth teacher taking part in cancer charity event ten years after diagnosis

Gillian Dolphin, now 59, was about to celebrate her 50th birthday when she was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer after a lump was found in her routine mammogram.

As part of her treatment, Gillian underwent surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

A decade on, Gillian is walking in the Blenheim Palace Pink Ribbon Walk next month to raise money and awareness for Breast Cancer Now’s lifesaving research and life-changing support.

Gillian said: “This will be ten years since diagnosis and, if I’m honest, I find it a bit daunting.

"When I was diagnosed, I was having a big birthday and I’m having another big birthday this year.

"There is anxiety and you can’t help thinking will the same thing happen again.

“I am very grateful for the treatment I’ve received and that I’m still here.”

In the years since her diagnosis, Gillian has participated in six Pink Ribbon Walks.

This year, the walks are taking place at Hampton Court Palace on Saturday (April 18), Blenheim Palace on Saturday May 9, at Chatsworth House in the Peak District on Sunday May 17 and at Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park on Saturday June 20.

Gillian said: “ “I love walking.

"It’ still a big part of my life.

"I’m excited for the walk this year.

"The first time I did a Pink Ribbon Walk was in 2017.

"I had just finished chemotherapy and I was partway through radiotherapy, so I did ten miles with a group of friends, which felt symbolic and a positive thing to do.

“It’s such good fun and the countryside is spectacular.”

Since the Pink Ribbon Walks began, the events have raised over £15.5m for Breast Cancer Now and when they started in 2005, eight in ten women in the UK survived breast cancer for five or more years.

Now, it’s nine in ten. 

Currently, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every nine minutes in the UK and a man every day.

To find out more about Breast Cancer Now's Pink Ribbon Walks visit https://breastcancernow.org/prw