THIS week HAYLEY WHITELEY will join 31 women - who, like her, have all been diagnosed with breast cancer - on top of London’s 02 Arena.

They are climbing the famous domed roof to raise awareness of the disease and how to spot it. The women have come together because they all spotted signs of breast cancer thanks to the Change and Check campaign on TV’s Lorraine Show.

The campaign was started by Helen Addis, head of features on the ITV show, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 after finding a lump. Change and Check reminds women to check themselves, with stickers on changing-room mirrors showing signs to look out for. Retailers such as John Lewis, Asda, Monsoon and gym David Lloyd have put the stickers in their changing facilities.

The Change and Check campaign is funded Future Dreams breast cancer charity, which has organised this week’s O2 climb to celebrate and give hope to the women who have been diagnosed and raise funds for Future Dreams.

The charity is co-funding a support and respite centre for breast cancer patients, opening next year. It has been delivering care packages to patients during the pandemic and is supporting long-term research and support programmes.

The Change and Check O2 Arena climbers have so far raised £3,633.

Also taking part in the 02 Climb are 12 men and women who are living with incurable secondary cancer together with two women who founded the Secondary Sisters when they were both diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and 2018 at the age of just 30. Their aim is to connect the secondary cancer community, raising awareness and increasing the support around the disease.

Hayley Whiteley, of Apperley Bridge, was diagnosed with breast cancer during the pandemic. She has just had her final operation, and today she celebrates her 50th birthday.

Ahead of her O2 Arena climb - which will take place on Wednesday - and Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, Hayley tells her story:

Being a busy fulltime working mum of two girls, health and wellbeing can sometimes get overlooked during everyday life.

So when the Covid pandemic arrived, it gave me a great opportunity to use the time take better care of myself.

I started drinking more water and working out every day online with KW Fitness. After a couple of months, the results started to show - my body began to change shape and I started losing inches.

During a shower one day I felt a lump in my left breast. My initial reaction was: ‘It’s fine, it’s nothing’ as there is no history of breast cancer in my family. At that moment, I assumed that all would be well.

However, as time went by, I noticed that my left breast was losing its shape and getting smaller, and I could now see the lump.

After watching the ‘Cop a Feel’ campaign on the Lorraine Kelly show in October 2020, I decided to do just that - I copped a feel and decided to get it checked out.

My reality was then blown to pieces - yes, it was breast cancer and after various tests and a mammogram, it was found that I had not only one lump but three!

There was no alternative but to have a mastectomy. I couldn’t bear the thought of waking up with no left breast, so I opted for DIEP Flap surgery and breast reconstruction.

Due to the complexity, it was decided to do the surgery and the reconstruction at the same time, leading to a total of nine hours in theatre. I was taken totally by surprise, it had all moved so quickly. A mere seven weeks after being first diagnosed, I was at home in recovery.

Throughout this rapid journey, I was able to remain positive and optimistic with the support of my family and close friends.

It has been a strange old year, but I am now a Breast Cancer survivor and I’m very much looking forward to the challenge of climbing the O2 Arena for a great charity that is very close to my heart.

Thank you for the love and support of close family and friends. Thanks to the NHS for being outstanding in what has been an incredibly challenging and difficult 18 months for them and of course a big thank you to the Lorraine show for making me (and all women) more aware that checking yourselves is crucially important.

I now feel renewed, rebuilt and refreshed - ready to tackle life and its challenges head on - whatever challenges there may be.

* To donate to the Change and Check O2 Climb go to justgiving.com. To find out more about Future Dreams breast cancer charity go to futuredreams.org.uk

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