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Benenden mum launches charity Rage IV to help people fight cancer through fitness

A mother from Benenden who is living with incurable cancer has launched a charity to help those battling their own diagnosis to fight the condition through exercise.

Danielle Hambridge founded Rage IV which provides free annual memberships to gyms or fitness clubs to anyone who is living with cancer or going through treatment.

Danielle with daughter Joey, exercising after a chemotherapy session
Danielle with daughter Joey, exercising after a chemotherapy session

The 32-year-old was told she had Stage 4 breast cancer in November 2018, just six months after her daughter Joey was born.

It quickly spread to her liver and her condition became incurable.

But now three years later, after six rounds of gruelling chemotherapy, tests show there is currently no evidence of the disease.

While she is in remission, it is likely the cancer will return at some stage in the future.

Mrs Hambridge says she is convinced exercise played a huge part in her recovery and set up the charity to help those going through their own battle to reap the benefits of physical activity.

Danielle with daughter Joey as she ran a marathon in her living room during lockdown for cancer charity, CoppaFeel
Danielle with daughter Joey as she ran a marathon in her living room during lockdown for cancer charity, CoppaFeel

She said: "When I was first diagnosed I'd just had a baby and I was due to get married so it felt so cruel.

"At the time I thought cancer was black and white and either you get cured of it, or you die. I didn't know that actually if you find a treatment that’s really effective, you can live with it for quite a long time.

"For me, I have Stage 4 cancer and that will not change, but my story could have been so different and I know it is for a lot of people.

"That's why I want to do something for others because of how lucky I have been."

Rage IV officially launched last month and is already helping people with cancer stay fit, and tackle social isolation.

Danielle on her sixth and final round of chemo
Danielle on her sixth and final round of chemo
Danielle says regular exercise has helped her through her treatment
Danielle says regular exercise has helped her through her treatment

Mrs Hambridge runs it by herself from her home in Benenden and offers to meet membership costs of up to £2,000 so anyone in England with a diagnosis can access their local facilities.

She said: "Exercise is so beneficial for people with cancer yet a lot of them can't afford it because of taking less hours at work, or having partners that have to be their carers.

"I wanted to set up something that incorporates exercise into a care plan for patients so they don’t need to worry about money.

"When I got the first application and I got the lady set up, she was really emotional and just seeing how happy she was made me realise I'm doing the right thing.

"You want to feel alive and you want your body to be pushed to remind you that you are still here so I'm really excited to see her journey.

"When I got the first application and I got the lady set up, she was really emotional and just seeing how happy she was made me realise I'm doing the right thing..."

"It's not about doing so much that you exhaust yourself, it's about doing what you can, when you can.

"People think about gym memberships and they think about weight lifting and extensive cardio work, when actually they can go for a nice swim, or to a yoga class, and it's about reducing social isolation as well as maintaining mental and physical health."

To find out more about Rage IV, click here.

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