Meet the Founder
A Cancer Survivor's Story

About Me

From the pitch to the podium of recovery

TARC is founded from my own experience of breast cancer, three decades leading complex international change and transformation, and the athlete's mindset I built as an Olympic development rower and playing rugby for Scotland during the pioneering years. TARC exists to help people not just survive, but thrive, through cancer.

The diagnosis

I know what it feels like to hear the words "you have cancer." In my case, it was followed by the words: aggressive, treatable but not curable. After taking a breath, my first thought was to lean in and ask: "what's the plan?" My surgeon later told me that's something he sees often in athletes — an immediate need to know what to do to fix it. I was no different. I went home armed with leaflets on every element of cancer, poured a straight whisky, sat down, and thought: what the actual fuck!

I finished close on a quarter of the bottle that night, processing everything this could mean. At some point, somewhat wired, I recorded myself on video saying I would research everything and beat it. In the days that followed, with a sober head, I started putting a plan together — falling back on my transformation background, I built a fishbone diagram mapping out every option.

Three lumpectomies followed, each just a week apart, the third achieving the minimum 1mm clear margin allowing me to avoid the full mastectomy. Mentally, that was one of the hardest parts: processing and accepting repeat bad news, surgery after surgery, with barely any time in between. A Prosigna test then showed an aggressive tumour with a high risk of recurrence, meaning six months of chemotherapy (doxorubicin and paclitaxel) and a week of intensive radiotherapy.

Taking control through research

I knew chemotherapy could be hard on the heart, and I wanted to keep exercising through treatment — but had no idea what a safe training zone looked like. So I researched, and brought Tom Cowan and Dr Rebecca Robinson onto my team. Tom is a registered Clinical Physiologist with a First Class Honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science, recognised as a cancer and exercise expert by Public Health England and the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK. Dr Robinson is a Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine with a specialist interest in exercise oncology and female athlete health, and an international athlete in her own right. Together, Dr Robinson set the physiological parameters based on my treatment, and Tom adapted my exercise schedule around my symptoms week by week.

That same research led me to hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the Samson Centre in Guildford, where I still attend weekly sessions — and where I now volunteer as a fully qualified oxygen therapy administrator for other patients.

Rebuilding — and giving back

Before treatment had even ended, I set myself a major goal: to get well enough to complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks, a 24.5-mile trek across Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. I gave Tom the challenge of getting me ready for it and he didn't disappoint. I did it despite having no feeling in my feet due to the neuropathy and being overall very weak, I camped in a small tent for the weekend with my whistling kettle. As an added bonus the event was being filmed by ITV for International Women's Day, alongside broadcaster and author Louise Minchin, oncologist and MOVE co-founder Dr Lucy Gossage, and Gemma Hillier-Moses, former international athlete and founder of MOVE Against Cancer, it was a very special day for me made even more memorable by the company along the way. I remain a proud ambassador for MOVE Against Cancer and you will often find me supporting the 5KYW at my local Parkrun on the last Saturday of every month.

Why TARC exists

I journaled every symptom, every session, every treatment option, every small win throughout treatment — and realised I had three things worth putting together: what I'd learned first-hand about training safely through cancer treatment, three decades of experience leading complex change, and an athlete's understanding of structured, progressive training.

That's what became The Active Recovery Co. I've since requalified as a Level 3 Personal Trainer and Level 2 Nutritionist, am CIMSPA registered, and in September 2026 I begin my Level 4 CanRehab qualification as a cancer exercise specialist. I'm also due to qualify as a spin instructor. I did the research the hard way, while it mattered most — I don't want anyone else to have to start from zero.

At The Active Recovery Co. (TARC), we provide a personalised approach to strength and exercise coaching. Our Five Elements Recovery Framework™ and Traffic Light Fatigue Management System™ help clients develop a more thoughtful and adaptable approach to training, supporting strength, fitness and confidence in movement.