Claire Whittaker: Knowledge is such a gift

Claire Whittaker is a long-term supporter of Prevent Breast Cancer, and this year, she is running the London Marathon to fundraise for the charity.

Fourteen years ago, Claire underwent genetic testing and discovered she carried a genetic mutation which meant she had a high risk of developing both breast and ovarian cancer.

We spoke with Claire to learn how her genetic history has shaped her life and her subsequent support for Prevent Breast Cancer.

In 2011 I discovered I had a BRCA2 gene mutation, and so there was a very strong probability that I would get breast cancer, and my risk of ovarian cancer was also considerably raised. I had two very young children and was scared. I went on to have a preventative double mastectomy and oophorectomy and have remained cancer-free.

My daughter has now reached the age where she can start the process to see whether she has inherited the same genetic mutation. It will no doubt be a rollercoaster.

Claire is running this year’s London Marathon for Prevent Breast Cancer:

Prevent Breast Cancer has been the charity that my entire family have supported for many years – since we discovered that my sister and I were both carriers of the mutation. Prevent Breast Cancer continues to explore the behaviour of our specific mutation – looking at new methods to inhibit its changes, new treatment approaches and preventative choices that future generations can make.

Fast forward to 2024, and I was aged 51 and 13 stone, and decided I was going to run a marathon. I’m running not just to see what it’s like on the ‘other side of the barrier’, or to see if this old lady can actually manage to put one foot in front of the other, but also to try and raise as much money as possible in order to help protect my children and the daughters and sons of all those who may go on to inherit a gene mutation.

We asked Claire how she’s preparing for her marathon:

To say this is a big challenge is such an understatement. I’d only ever walked around one Parkrun, where I cried, and felt both inadequate and unfit. I hate any form of exercise and grumble around every step of a family walk. Training has involved buying running shoes (the best bit – always loved a bit of shopping), learning how to work my Apple watch and discovering a world of podcasts.

Although I will have trained for over nine months for this race, my goal is to complete the marathon in under eight hours! My other goals include remaining alive at the end and getting a medal. I will then hang up my running shoes and probably never run again.

Claire shared her thoughts on what a future free from breast cancer means to her:

A breast cancer free future would mean that all my future relatives will be safe and if they did inherit a gene mutation, they would be protected and be allowed to have a happy and healthy life.

I support Prevent Breast Cancer as I believe prevention is better than cure. My situation has taught me to value every day and be eternally grateful that I was ‘given the heads up’, otherwise I probably wouldn’t be alive today.

Thanks so much to Claire for sharing her story with us, and we wish her the best of luck for next month’s marathon! Find out more about genes and family history. Feeling inspired? Check out our upcoming charity events and see how you can get involved.

Show your support for Claire’s Challenge and Prevent Breast Cancer by making a donation on her JustGiving page today.