Ashley Frigo finished chemotherapy for breast cancer only eight weeks ago but already has set herself a big challenge.
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The Batemans Bay advertising executive, with a team of friends and family, is competing in the Miss Muddy event in Canberra on November 22 to raise money for the McGrath Foundation and the Breast Cancer Network Australia.
Ashley was just 27 when she was diagnosed in March with cancer in her right breast.
Breast cancer has been prevalent on her father's side of the family and she has always been a diligent self-checker.
She noticed a change to her breast last July but her doctor told her it was likely to be due to hormones. He did give her a referral for an ultrasound should she continue to be concerned or notice further developments.
Several months later, Ashley did notice her breast start to dimple and look like cellulite. She had an ultrasound and a lump was found. She had a lumpectomy and underwent IVF to retrieve and freeze some eggs before she started six rounds of chemotherapy.
The now 28-year-old plans to get her right breast removed next year to further reduce the risk of the cancer recurring. She has had genetic testing and does not have the genes predisposed to breast cancer.
She and her team, under the name The CCs (Coastie Chicks), will run in the fun obstacle event that is Miss Muddy, aiming to raise $1000 for the McGrath Foundation and $1000 for the Breast Cancer Network Australia.
Miss Muddy aims to raise $380,00 across several events for the McGrath Foundation to put a breast cancer nurse in an area of need for three years.
"I wanted to do Miss Muddy as a fun way of raising funds for some of the organisations that helped me during treatment so they can continue to help others," Ashley said.
"And I wanted to tell my story and talk about it with my loved ones because I want anyone I know to be health conscious, whether that's them starting self-checking, to having a weird -looking mole checked out. I want them to know that even if it's bad news the sooner they do something about [it] the better the outcome.
"Yes, I've been through a rough eight months but had I left things, I might not be here."
Miss Muddy is on November 22 at Thoroughbred Park. To register visit missmuddy.com.au.
To donate to Ashley's Miss Muddy campaign click here.
