Cancer tattoo woman's bid to do double marathon in her bra

People from all over the world were touched by the bravery of Catherine Hadden after she was photographed showing a cheeky and indelible reminder on her chest after enduring a double mastectomy.

Two years ago the Carlisle woman agreed to be pictured showing the world her tattoos of two great tit birds, sitting on a branch, in a bid to heighten awareness of breast cancer.

She said at the time that if telling her story and showing the world her tattoos had helped one more woman, it was worth it.

But just months later, Catherine suffered another health scare which resulted in her having a hysterectomy.

Afterwards her weight ballooned and she became extremely depressed.

"I didn't move off my chair for two weeks," said the 50-year-old mum.

It was at this time that she read about The MoonWalk, which sees thousands of walkers of all ages walk through the streets of Edinburgh during the night, organised by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.

"I've always wanted to do that walk, so I put something out on Facebook to say I would be doing it in 2016 and was anyone else up for it.

"Having done that there was no going back for me," said Catherine, whose ordeal with breast cancer began in 2007 when she notice an unexplained 'puckering of her breast skin'.

There was no half-measures with Catherine.

She decided to put in for the full marathon, a distance of 26.2 miles.

This was no mean feat for someone weighing in at just over 15 stone and who could not walk round the block without breaking into a sweat.

"I decided to get myself fit," said Catherine.

"I bought a pedometer and joined Slimming World.

" I hadn't realised how much weight I had put on. Being on medication hadn't helped."

Catherine first started out walking 10 steps down the drive - and then built up to 10 steps a day.

"Then you have to go out of your way to go for a walk," she said.

"Then you walk round the block to get the papers.

"I built it up that way until I was going out for a 13-mile hike on a Sunday morning."

In the meantime, the group at the Belah branch nicknamed Catherine 'half-pound Annie'.

"I lost 54lbs in 52 weeks. I hadn't big weight losses, but it did help with my shape," she said.

But in just 18 months Catherine lost five stone 1lb, and won the Belah branch 'Woman of the Year' award.

"They have different awards. Mine was for someone who is inspirational," she said.

And along with two friends from Carlisle, Anne Walters and Emma Wilson, they took part in The MoonWalk alongside 3,800 others.

She said: "It was amazing.

"We set off from Holyrood and walked through the streets.

"People were coming out of pubs and cheering and in the suburbs residents' had hung bras in trees."

Catherine completed the power walk in six hours and 21 minutes and raised £2,000.

Altogether the three women raised £4,000.

"It felt good. We were worn out though.

"We were on a total high on the walk and I think that was what saw us through it. It is a challenge not a race," she said.

Catherine, who celebrates her 30th wedding anniversary this week with husband, Michael, is not about to sit on her laurels.

She is aiming to take it one step further and take part in the double marathon of 52.4 miles.

"I've got to start on the training," she said.

"I'm doing it on my own. It is 10 years since my breast cancer diagnosis, and I want to celebrate it.

" It is something I have to do mentally for myself.

"I have to do something that says I've won. But I will never do 52.4 miles again."