A GREAT grandmother living with incurable cancer has run 100 kilometres this month to raise funds for research into the disease.
Anne Libby, from Looe, jokingly refers to herself as ’Forrest Gump on a good day’. She sees putting on her trainers and going out for a run every day as a way to cope with her illness.
Her inspirational approach has featured in a national campaign for Cancer Research UK.
Anne, 68, was diagnosed with incurable, inoperable, non-small cell lung cancer in 2018.
Having recently retired from her job in Looe’s tourist information centre, she has been inspiring others in the town to unite against cancer by taking part in a very special Race for Life this weekend.
Anne said: “I feel fit and healthy and despite my diagnosis I love running and clocked up 100 kilometres during the month of July. In August I managed the equivalent of a couple of marathons. I go out most mornings and it is my perfect way to get headspace.
“I am not fighting cancer, as I can’t win, but I am a positive person,” she continued.
“This is my life and I am going to live the best life I can. To be told you have incurable cancer does sometimes get to you. I have days where I feel down, especially when facing medical appointments, but then I know I want to get on with my life and to enjoy myself.”
Anne, who has eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren, will be marking her birthday later in September by asking people to support her during her 5k run on Sunday (September 27). Meanwhile, Cancer Research is encouraging members of the public to sign up to their own "Very 2020 Race for Life" on Saturday (26th) or whenever they can.
“Since lockdown I’ve been going out every morning and either running or power walking," said Anne."I was due to take part in Race for Life in Plymouth back in June and when that was cancelled I took up my own challenges. I would love people to get involved in the Race for Life on September 26 in their own garden or at a safe distance and just do their own thing.”
Cancer Research UK is expecting a staggering £160 million drop in income in the year ahead, having suffered a £44 million cut to life-saving research funding already.
Anne says that the chemo and immunotherapy treatment she has received over the last 20 months has enabled her to live as well as possible - and that it’s all thanks to research.
“I am on an immunotherapy drug called Keytruda and because of Covid-19 I have been having it every six weeks rather than every three weeks so that I don’t have to go to Derriford Hospital so often.
“I have lost close family members to cancer, so it is a disease I am all too familiar with, but I want to change the story so that my daughters and grandchildren don’t go through the same experience.”
Members of the Looe Pioneers will be joining Anne in a socially distanced run next Saturday – and in the meantime, a short film of her running has been used in the Cancer Research TV advert for the Very 2020 Race for Life campaign.
The film was taken by Anne’s husband Simon.
“Simon is my rock,” she said, “ along with my three daughters and my good friends, who have been my support through my diagnosis and treatment.
“As I have been treated at three different hospitals I have needed lifts for my chemo and scans.
“After a year where vital cancer trials have been delayed, the Race for Life is more important than ever. Please consider taking part or sponsoring someone today.”
To sign up for free visit raceforlife.org. There’ll be a live broadcast on the Cancer Research UK Race for Life Facebook page at 9.30am on Saturday September 26 featuring an energising warm up, shared photos and stories.To support Anne Libby by donating to the appeal visit https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/annes-very-2020-race-for-life-26