Breast cancer survivor to run the Brighton Marathon in the ‘tiniest flat in the world’

Sara Cutting was set to join thousands of runners on Sunday (April 19) – but had to get creative when it was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She said: “It’s so sad that all our official money raising sporting events have had to be cancelled. I’d been thinking for a while what to do on Brighton Marathon Day, so I’ve set myself the challenge of going several steps further and doing a 30-mile ultra-marathon distance without leaving my front gate.

“The rules will allow me to use my flat (the tiniest flat in the world!), and the communal areas both inside and out. I’ve checked in with my neighbours and we’re obviously going to comply with the social distancing rules.

“If you see my flat, you’ll understand this is going to be quite a challenge! But compared to all that our front-line key workers are doing for us day in day out, I feel it’s the least I can do. To give you an idea it will roughly work out to be 63,360 steps.”

Sara, who has been fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support after being diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago, has raised over £30,000 for Macmillan so far doing her daily head gear challenge on social media (@fizzysnood), and marathons such as Brighton, New York and Amsterdam.

She said: “Through the most surreal rollercoaster of appointments – and pain, fear, laughter, guilt, anger, sleepless nights and denial – my Macmillan nurse and the counsellors were there for me throughout, and I couldn’t have done it without their amazing support.

“The charity needs our help now more than ever before, so they can continue to be there for people with cancer.”

To see Sara’s fundraising page, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/snoodlockdownultra

Macmillan Horizon Centre in Brighton is offering phone appointments for counselling and benefits advice, and new virtual support groups that help people connect with others going through the same thing.

Geoff Brown, manager at the Macmillan Horizon Centre, said: “This is a really anxious time for people living with cancer and we’re doing all we can to support people through this.

“That’s why we are so grateful for the support of our incredible fundraisers like Sara finding new and ingenious ways to raise money for Macmillan at a time when our services are needed more than ever.”

As people follow the advice to stay at home, the Macmillan Support Line is open seven days a week and last week a third of calls were from people concerned about coronavirus.

Comprehensive information and support, including the latest guidance and advice on the impact of coronavirus on cancer care, is available at www.macmillan.org.uk and the online community continues to provide invaluable emotional and peer support.

The free Macmillan Support Line is open seven days a week between 9am-5pm: 0808 808 00 00.