Woman who ran London Marathon topless to raise awareness of mastectomy scars says she received brilliant support
- last year
A woman who ran the virtual London Marathon topless to raise awareness of mastectomy scars says she received brilliant support.
Louise Butcher, 49, completed a 26.2 mile route near her home in Devon without any clothes on her top half in four hours and 46 minutes.
The mum-of-two underwent a mastectomy in 2022 while training for the marathon.
And she decided this year she wanted to help other women who had gone through the same thing to feel more confident.
Louise, from Braunton, said: "I did feel out of my comfort zone when I did it. When you say you're going to do something and then do it, it's different.
"People were looking and then looking again like they couldn't believe what they were seeing. It was getting the attention it needed.
"I had brilliant support but also there was stigma and debate about whether it's right for woman to run with no top even if she has no breasts."
Louise was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer in April 2022.
The charity volunteer discovered a lump in her breast by checking herself, with the diagnosis being confirmed by an ultrasound.
She refused to let the diagnosis or radiotherapy treatment stop her from running and completed last year's race in five hours and five minutes.
Now, she says she's hoping to run in London next year.
"I've entered the ballot for next year with my friend and hopefully we will get in - I so want to do London, from what I've heard it's unbelievable," said Louise.
"The trail was quite quiet in the rain so I was on my own, it was difficult getting no support in the rain.
"But I powered on and it got easier when people came out under their brollies and were cheering me on, it really helped.
"There were double takes, shock and people saying 'wow' and clapping.
"On the way back the sun started to shine and my friend met me and kept me chatting.
"As I got closer to Braunton there was more support and people clapping, it started to feel real.
"As I got towards the café were I finished there was crowd of people and balloons, the charities came out that I support, the kids were there and everyone clapping and cheering.
"It was just brilliant, everything I wanted it to be.
"I was just getting it all out there, once I got there loads of kids were there and they didn't bat an eyelid at my scars.
"I felt like I'd got the job done, all my friends helped through the whole process and totally inspired me and amazed me.
"Today people have been saying that I don't look like I've run a marathon -
it's great to have the community and North Devon behind me and supporting me."
Louise Butcher, 49, completed a 26.2 mile route near her home in Devon without any clothes on her top half in four hours and 46 minutes.
The mum-of-two underwent a mastectomy in 2022 while training for the marathon.
And she decided this year she wanted to help other women who had gone through the same thing to feel more confident.
Louise, from Braunton, said: "I did feel out of my comfort zone when I did it. When you say you're going to do something and then do it, it's different.
"People were looking and then looking again like they couldn't believe what they were seeing. It was getting the attention it needed.
"I had brilliant support but also there was stigma and debate about whether it's right for woman to run with no top even if she has no breasts."
Louise was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer in April 2022.
The charity volunteer discovered a lump in her breast by checking herself, with the diagnosis being confirmed by an ultrasound.
She refused to let the diagnosis or radiotherapy treatment stop her from running and completed last year's race in five hours and five minutes.
Now, she says she's hoping to run in London next year.
"I've entered the ballot for next year with my friend and hopefully we will get in - I so want to do London, from what I've heard it's unbelievable," said Louise.
"The trail was quite quiet in the rain so I was on my own, it was difficult getting no support in the rain.
"But I powered on and it got easier when people came out under their brollies and were cheering me on, it really helped.
"There were double takes, shock and people saying 'wow' and clapping.
"On the way back the sun started to shine and my friend met me and kept me chatting.
"As I got closer to Braunton there was more support and people clapping, it started to feel real.
"As I got towards the café were I finished there was crowd of people and balloons, the charities came out that I support, the kids were there and everyone clapping and cheering.
"It was just brilliant, everything I wanted it to be.
"I was just getting it all out there, once I got there loads of kids were there and they didn't bat an eyelid at my scars.
"I felt like I'd got the job done, all my friends helped through the whole process and totally inspired me and amazed me.
"Today people have been saying that I don't look like I've run a marathon -
it's great to have the community and North Devon behind me and supporting me."