FITNESS trainer Vicky Martin and her Love Life Ladies Bootcamp are making it their mission to raise at least £10,000 this year for breast cancer charity Coppafeel!

After recently beating breast cancer for the third time, 38-year-old Vicky is passionate about raising awareness of breast cancer in younger women, which can often be the most aggressive kind.

She was diagnosed when she was 31 and then again at 34 and completed chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy again this year.

“While I feel extremely lucky to be alive, my late diagnosis and treatment have had life changing consequences for me,” said Vicky, who teaches classes at Stratford Park Leisure Centre and has a growing interest in how exercise can help people going through cancer treatment.

The group’s aim is to raise money and spread awareness through a series of charity events including running the Stroud Half Marathon, Milton Keynes Half Marathon and the Race for Life.

They will also host their own fun fitness events such as Burpees for Boobies and It’s Your Knockers aimed at educating women as well as raising money.

Vicky also hopes to complete the extreme Ironman Triathlon in 2015.

“Treatment for breast cancer is traumatic for all women but has particular implications for younger pre-menopausal women,” said Vicky.

“The sooner they are diagnosed often the less treatment is needed and therefore the less impact it has on their life in the short and long term.

“Over the last year I have heard of so many cases of younger women being diagnosed at later stages making their treatment severe or in some cases palliative.”

The charity Coppafeel! was founded in October 2009 by Kristin Hallenga who herself was misdiagnosed twice with breast cancer at age 23 and now lives with secondary breast cancer.

Its mission is to stamp out late detection and misdiagnosis of breast cancer by ensuring that people know the signs and symptoms, check their breasts regularly throughout their lifetime and have the confidence to seek medical referral when they detect abnormalities.

The charity’s vision is that no one dies of breast cancer because of late detection or misdiagnosis.

Vicky’s Love Life Ladies Bootcamp has helped numerous local women lose weight, get fit and gain confidence.

If you would like to get involved please get in touch with Vicky by emailing vicky@vickymartinfitness.co.uk
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ou can support Vicky by donating to her Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/Vicky-Martin2