A remarkable group of six women, united by their shared experience of living with breast cancer, have discovered an unexpected source of joy and strength: exercise. They have come together to share their powerful stories through the Boobee Campaign, a UK-based initiative that educates women about cancer, fundraises, and spreads awareness for Prevent Breast Cancer.
In a heartwarming and uplifting video set to the 80s hit Call on Me by Eric Prydz, the women dance and sing, embodying a message of hope and defiance. Their journeys demonstrate that a cancer diagnosis does not have to mean the end of laughter or vitality.
Movement as Medicine
Margo Cornish, the organiser of the Boobee Campaign, emphasises the profound impact exercise has had on the group. "Exercise has given these six amazing ladies not just physical strength, but freedom, joy and courage to feel like themselves again," she says. "This video is a powerful reminder that life with cancer can still be full of laughter. Their message is one of hope. Movement is not just for recovery, but it can protect our health."
From the intense teamwork of dragon boat racing to the solitary focus of a cold tub plunge, each woman has found a unique form of physical activity that helps her cope, recover, and reclaim her life.
Six Stories of Strength and Resilience
Jinette Lunt, 53, a police officer from Manchester, was diagnosed with two types of breast cancer simultaneously in June 2015. After starting with weight lifting, she found dragon boat racing, which involves a team of 22 people. This activity is particularly beneficial as it helps manage the lymphedema—a painful swelling in her left arm—that resulted from having lymph nodes removed. "During cancer treatment, I didn’t recognise the person in the mirror," Jinette admits. "But the dragon boat racing helps keep the swelling down."
Heather Glover, 54, from Macclesfield, faces an ongoing battle, as her triple negative breast cancer has returned three times, with the most recent recurrence in October 2024. With chemotherapy ineffective, she relies on constant immunotherapy. To strengthen her body for this treatment, she uses a combination of sauna sessions and cold tub plunges in her back garden. "This gives me confidence, control, power and I’m doing something positive to fight it," Heather states. "I don’t look forward to it, but when I get in, I say to myself ‘the cancer hates this’. I’m doing something to help save my life and be a mum to my three children."
Kath Pryer, 61, from Cheshire, was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in February 2023. During her recovery, she took up padel, a racket sport that helped her maintain a positive mental focus. "It’s easy with cancer to slip into a negative mindset and worry that it will come back," says Kath. "Padel gives me a much more positive way of thinking."
Danielle McDermott, 42, from Liverpool, was diagnosed in November 2018 at the age of 35. Following a mastectomy and five months of chemotherapy, she began running, starting with a 'couch to 5k' programme. "I had never run before and had always hated it," she recalls. "Now I love it, it gives me such a buzz." She now runs 5k four times a week, which also helps combat the weak bones caused by her chemotherapy.
Debi Piper, 58, from Sale, received her diagnosis of ductal invasive carcinoma in August 2020, in the midst of the Covid pandemic. Throughout her treatment, which concluded in October 2021, she practised yoga, even on days when she was too weak to stand. "The doctors actually told me that my calm approach with yoga would help me get better," Debi explains. "It took my body out of the fight or flight state, allowing it to heal. I wasn’t wasting energy on being anxious, and instead using it for healing my body instead."
Jane Taylor, 67, a retired nurse from Cheshire, was diagnosed in September 2016 and returned to her childhood passion, ballet, during her chemotherapy. "Losing myself in dance gave me a break away from cancer," Jane says. "You can’t be thinking of cancer when you're attempting a pirouette!" She also finds that ballet helps manage the creaking and aching joints that are a side effect of her current medication.
A United Front Against Cancer
Together, these six women represent a powerful testament to the human spirit. Their involvement in the Boobee Campaign video was an empowering experience that they hope will offer hope and inspiration to other women facing a similar diagnosis. They have proven that through shared experience and a commitment to movement, it is possible to find light, strength, and even joy, during the most challenging of times.
