A BEMBRIDGE gym owner, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26, is set to take part in the London at Night Pink Ribbon-walk this weekend.
Victoria Coles, now 28, will raise funds at the Breast Cancer Care event today (Saturday) to help the charity to be there for the thousands of people diagnosed with the disease every year.
Victoria had just opened her gym, Wight Fit, when she went for tests after developing deep vein thrombosis, which revealed she had breast cancer.
She said: "I had no idea I had breast cancer. When they told me, I just sat there and said 'is it treatable?'
"It was - everything happened so quickly I didn't have time to contemplate it.
"You have to be positive. It has made me appreciate life and it had made my friends and family value their lives in a different way too."
Victoria had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is now having hormone and bone-strengthening treatments.
Since her diagnosis, she has taken part in a range of charity events, including the London Marathon.
She has been spurred on further after losing her friends, Alex Milligan, 30, of Portsmouth, to leukaemia and Julian Quick, 29, to a rare type of bone cancer known as Ewing Sarcoma this year.
"We all supported each other. The thought of them keeps me going when I'm taking part in challenging events," she said.
Breast Cancer Care is inviting women, men and children to sign up for a five, ten or 20-mile walk at the London at Night Pink Ribbonwalk.
Victoria, who is taking part with her mother, said: "I'm really looking forward to it. My mum has been there with me every step of the way so it will be nice to do something with her."
The Pink Ribbonwalk registration fee is £32.50 for adults and £15 for children.
To sign up for a Pink Ribbonwalk or organise your own, go to www.breastcancercare.org.uk/ribbonwalk.