By Christine Lee
Robyn Smith was pregnant with her second child when she learned she was “living with a ticking time-bomb” in her chest.
After her mother’s ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2012, tests revealed she had inherited the same breast cancer gene – the BRCA2 mutation – that had claimed the lives of several women in her family. Her grandmother had died of breast cancer before she was born. Her mother soon followed years later.
Disproportionately affecting women, the BRCA gene increases the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer by up to 70 per cent and ovarian cancer by 40 per cent.
Double mastectomy recipient Robyn Smith is running the City2Surf topless next weekend. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
The diagnosis gave Smith time to work with her doctors and access potentially life-saving, preventative surgery, undergoing a double mastectomy along with an aesthetic flat closure.
The Canberra woman said, initially, getting the diagnosis was “overwhelming”.
“But I also felt lucky to have had the information that my grandma, mum and people before me in my family didn’t have. I was able to use that genetic information to manage my own risk of cancer, and it saved my life.”
A mother of three, 46-year-old Smith leads a healthy, active life — playing touch footy regularly and taking part in Park Run whenever she can.
Next Sunday, Smith is heading to Sydney for her seventh go at the world’s largest fun run, the Voltaren City2Surf, where she plans to raise funds for Inherited Cancers Australia (ICA) by running the 14-kilometre course from Sydney’s CBD to Bondi Beach topless.
Inspired by Louise Butcher, the British woman who ran the London marathon topless for breast cancer awareness this year, Smith will be run the race with the words “flat out of funding” painted across her chest.
While Smith admits the decision “sounds a little bit crazy,” she wants people to look past their shock and focus on the cause she’s supporting. ICA receives no recurring government funding.
“What’s important is the message that’s written on my chest, about ICA not having funding,” Smith said.
“And it’s about raising awareness… that choosing to be flat after a mastectomy is a valid option, and plenty of people are out there living happy and flat.”
Also hitting the course next week is celebrity chef and writer Adam Liaw, who is raising money for UNICEF alongside his 11-year-old son, Christopher.
“Christopher was actually the one who asked if we could do the run together,” Liaw said. “I thought it was a great opportunity for us to raise money for children in Gaza.”
The pair have been training in Centennial Park, with Christopher’s younger sister, Anna, cycling beside them.
TV chef Adam Liaw and his son Christopher, 11, are also training for next weekend’s race. The pair are raising money for UNICEF.Credit: Steven Siewert
“I’ve advocated for children for many years,” Liaw said.
“But this is one of the most visible crises we’ve seen. I’m proud that UNICEF is able to be on the ground helping children in Gaza, and proud to be running with my son to support that.”
More than 90,000 people will run the City2Surf next Sunday.
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