Woman runs race topless for breast cancer awareness

A woman who ran a half-marathon topless to raise awareness of breast cancer said the response to her challenge has been "beautiful".

Jenny Palmer, 49, from Taunton, Somerset, ran the Taunton Half Marathon on Sunday after having a full mastectomy more than seven years ago, raising money for the breast clinic at the town's Musgrove Park Hospital.

Despite being unable to obtain an official time due to being topless, Palmer ran the course in two hours and 10 minutes.

Palmer said everyone along the course was "amazing" and the race itself was "absolutely phenomenal".

Palmer, who wore a pair of colourful wings for the race with names of people who died from cancer, said: "I had so much support from start to finish, with everybody just coming over to me and telling me about their stories.

"The response has been so beautiful," she added.

Due to England Athletics' rules, all runners, regardless of gender, must wear a top to be eligible for an official time, meaning Palmer did not have hers taken - however she did get a "chip time" from organisers.

They found a work around to enable Palmer to race, as well as limit any potential, though unlikely, arrests over indecent exposure by talking to the police beforehand.

Dan Bryce, one of the organisers, said: "For us to be able to do this and get it over the line - it's just fantastic and the awareness she's raised, the positivity."

"When you see her and you see her smiling and the strength she has... I'm really proud," he added.

Palmer added: "They literally spent so much time trying to think about what they could do and how they could support me and help me and get me to that start line.

"And they did. And it worked. And I was there. And I ran it," she added.

England Athletics said it had worked hard with the organisers to "find a way to allow Jenny to take part and raise awareness of the cause".

"We found a solution with the help of the organiser which enabled this to be achieved and are delighted we could make this happen," it added.

Palmer has raised more than £700 so far.

Breast cancer symptoms may include:

• A lump, or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit
• A change in the skin of your breast, such as dimpling (may look like orange peel) or redness (may be harder to see on black or brown skin)
• A change in size or shape of one or both breasts
• Nipple discharge (if you are not pregnant or breastfeeding), which may have blood in it
• A change in the shape or look of your nipple, such as it turning inwards (inverted nipple) or a rash on it (may look like eczema)
• Pain in your breast or armpit which does not go away – breast pain that comes and goes is usually not a symptom of breast cancer

Source NHS

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