A district nurse from Uttlesford who recently recovered from breast cancer is taking part in a 100km trek to raise money for charity.

Emily Blackburn, who works for North Uttlesford Integrated Care team, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 at the age of 33.

She is now taking on the trek across Northumberland to raise funds for breast cancer charity CoppaFeel! - joining celebrities including Giovanna Fletcher and Emma Willis.

Emily's trek will take five days, from June 10 to June 16, and aims to raise awareness of breast cancer and encourage people of all ages to check themselves for signs and symptoms.

The 35-year-old said: "I found a lump in my breast, which coincided at a time when I already had a doctor's appointment. If I hadn't had that doctor's appointment, I'm not sure how long I would have waited to get it checked.

"There was no concern and was told it was most probably a cyst but any lump has to be referred to the breast clinic.

"Two weeks later at the breast clinic, I was examined by several doctors where I was still told it was just a cyst but was offered an ultrasound to be sure.

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"During the ultrasound I knew it wasn't good news. They found three tumours and the original lump I found wasn't the aggressive one.

"Biopsies were taken and I was told to return to the clinic instead of having a phone call and I knew the results wouldn't be good.

"If this had happened two years previously, I would not have had an ultrasound because of my age."

Emily underwent chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy, and finally finished active treatment on April 25 last year, and was declared cancer free.

 She added: "It is scary to think that this could have ended up so differently if I had not mentioned it to the doctor or it had happened a couple of years before.

"Whatever your age please check your boobs and never feel silly for getting it checked out."

Emily has manged to raise more than £2,500 so far. To donate go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/emily-blackburn4.