- Robyn Smith, 46, will run City2Surf bare-chested on Sunday
- Mother-of-three will be showing of scars of double mastectomy
Canberra mother-of-three Robyn Smith will make a bold statement at this year’s City2Surf by running the 14-kilometre course topless.
The 46-year-old will be displaying the scars of her double mastectomy to raise awareness for those who ‘go flat’ after having their breasts removed.
Smith, who has a long history of cancer in her family, is also collecting donations for the organisation Inherited Cancers Australia, where she works.
In 2012, Smith discovered that she had the gene mutation BRCA2, which dramatically increases the chances of developing ovarian and breast cancer.
Smith’s mother had recently been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, so she decided to take the step of getting her breasts, fallopian tubes and ovaries removed.
‘One in 400 Australians have a gene mutation like I do,’ she told NewsWire.
Robyn Smith (pictured), 46, will run the City2Surf bare-chested on Sunday
Smith had a mastectomy after learning about her risks of developing cancer
‘That’s heaps of people who are facing these challenges.’
Smith will have the words ‘flat out of funding’ painted across her scars, which she says relates to the shortage of donations that Inherited Cancers Australia is getting.
‘You’ve got families that have watched generation after generation after generation in the same family be impacted by cancer,’ she said.
‘You know the demand of genetic testing is just continuing to go through the roof.’
Smith, who was inspired by UK runner Louise Butcher who has run the London Marathon twice bearing her mastectomy scars, wants to start conversations about cancer prevention.
‘When I first found out I had a gene mutation, I leaned so much on ICA for information and connection to other people with gene mutations,’ she said.
‘This organisation was instrumental in helping me be proactive with my cancer risk – a privilege that others in my family were not afforded.
‘Living with and working in the inherited cancer space means I see firsthand the impact that organisations like ours can have on someone in this position. It’s great to be able to give back through running.’
Smith says she also wants to normalise ‘being flat’.
‘I am proud of my decision and how I go about living my best flat life while also shining a light on the realities of living with the ticking timebomb of inherited cancer risk,’ she said.
