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05

Jan 2024

Last Updated: 04/01/2024
Community
Community

Ripon woman to climb Yorkshire three peaks to mark one-year ‘cancerversary’

by Flora Grafton

| 05 Jan, 2024
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A Ripon woman is set to climb the Yorkshire three peaks this year to mark one year since her cancer diagnosis.

Loren Fidler, 31, was diagnosed with grade 3, stage 2, ER+HER2- breast cancer in May 2023.

Since that "world-shattering" day, Ms Fidler has undergone four surgeries on one breast, which ultimately led to a full mastectomy, and 14 rounds of chemotherapy.

She still requires another two more rounds of chemotherapy, as well as a bi-lateral mastectomy on her other breast.

However, she recently decided to make her “come back” exactly a year after her diagnosis by climbing the Yorkshire three peaks:

“It was a world-shattering day. I want this to be my come back a year later – a way of turning my cancer-versary around.”


Ms Fidler hopes to complete the 38.6km challenge in one day, but says she will “see how her body copes” during her training climbs.

She will be joined by her partner, who has carried her through this time, as well as her sister and her 10-year-old niece.

The mother-of-two told the Stray Ferret:

“Other than cancer (obviously), this will be the biggest challenge I have ever done.
“I’m nervous but I’m excited to see what my body can do.”






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Ms Fidler said she coped relatively well for the first six months, but added she “crashed and burned mentally” following her fourth surgery and has since faced an “uphill struggle”.

“I was quite naïve at first.
“I found the lump when I was in the shower, but I was ignorant about young cancer and had never checked my breast.
“I’d given birth a year before, so I was very lucky the doctor didn’t just attribute it to a blocked milk duct.
“After that, I sort of thought I’d just be able to have my surgery and go through chemo and that would be it – but it’s been a real mental struggle.”


Ms Fidler will tackle the three peaks in May and hopes to raise £5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

She also hopes to host a raffle to boost the funds and invites any businesses that may be interested in donating prizes to contact her via her Instagram page.

She also issued a plea to Stray Ferret readers:

“Please check your breasts. Be your own hero - your own advocate.
“The sooner you find something the better, but these things don't just go away because you’re scared.”