Aimee Hill was six months pregnant when she was diagnosed with a rare cancer behind her eye.
34-year-old Aimee had no symptoms and found out she had the disease after a ‘freckle’ was spotted in the back of her left eye during a routine optician’s appointment.
Further scans showed the mum-of-one had ocular melanoma – an eye cancer found in around 750 people in the UK each year
In January 2021 Aimee from Port Talbot started treatment at St Paul’s Eye Clinic in Liverpool. She had plaque radiotherapy – a high dose of radiation to a small area. A small radioactive disk was placed over the cancer on the affected eye to continually give off radiation.
The tumour has shrunk to a third of its original size and Aimee now has appointments every six months to monitor the situation.
After being the VIP starter at Swansea Race for Life last year, Aimee is thrilled to have been chosen as the voice for Race for Life events this year.
Aimee shared how she is living and thriving with cancer as part of a new pre-recorded montage which will be played on stage at all 450 Race for Life events, thanking supporters. Her inspirational words will be heard across Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland before participants set off on the Race for Life routes.
Aimee knows exactly how vital it is to raise funds for life-saving research. That’s why she’s urging people to visit raceforlife.org and enter.* Money raised will help scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancers – helping to save many more lives.
People of all ages and abilities are welcome to take part in the bumper weekend of Race for Life activities on Saturday July 29 and Sunday July 30 at Museum Green, Swansea. There is a choice of 5k and 10k events as well as Pretty Muddy, a mud-splattered obstacle course.
Aimee said: “I hope my story will connect with people in the moments before they set off on the Race for Life course.
“I had treatment when I was seven months pregnant. It was an incredibly tough time.
“The tumour is still there, but it is shrinking which is really good news. I continue to have check-ups every six months and I’m doing really well.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped support me.
“It’s a privilege to have the chance to thank the amazing people who are fundraising to support life-saving research.”
Aimee’s powerful story is one of five audio recordings from cancer survivors which will be played at Race for Life events across the UK this year.
Every year, around 19,800 people are diagnosed with cancer in Wales** and one in two people in the UK born after 1960 will get cancer in their lifetime.***
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with headline sponsor Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, is an inspiring series of 3k, 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.
This is the 30th year of Race for Life and participants will receive an exclusive medal to mark the milestone.
Ruth Amies, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson in Wales, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Aimee for her support and know that her story will make an impact on participants when played on stage at the beginning of Race for Life.
“Sadly, cancer affects all of us in some way. “We’d love for as many people as possible across Wales to join us during our 30th year of Race for Life. Sadly, cancer affects all of us in some way.
“We want to make sure that everyone can join the Race for Life movement. Our participants come from different backgrounds, with different stories, but with one thing in common – the determination to help beat cancer. Whether people are living with cancer, taking part in honour of or in memory of a loved one with cancer, or signing up to protect their own children’s future, everyone has a reason to Race for Life.
“We’ve seen survival rates in the UK double in the last forty years thanks to the tireless efforts of researchers, but this can only happen with the continued support of fundraisers up and down the country.
“Together we can bring about a future free from the fear of cancer. So we’re asking people across Wales: Who will you Race for?”
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life raises funds for world-class research to help beat 200 types of cancer – including bowel cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, testicular cancer, brain cancer, children’s cancers and leukaemia.
Chief executive of Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, Andy Curran, said: “We are extremely proud to have been chosen as the headline sponsor of Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life. This sponsorship will help encourage participation and raise funds for life-saving research to help beat cancer.”
