Images of Deborah de Williams running down a dusty, deserted road in her running uniform conjures up images of Lynda Carter from the Wonder Woman TV series.
Deborah is Amazon-like in her height and build and with her long raven hair she does remind one of the glamorous superhero, but instead of the star spangled banner suit Deborah is attired entirely in pink from her sun visor to her running shoes.
Her fight is also for justice but it is for the justice of breast cancer patients and indeed all women. Deborah seeks to inform, protect and raise funds to overcome once and for all this cruel disease. This Tassie girl now is honoured and respected by people such as the PM who wore Deborah’s special breast cancer pin to question time and she has even had an audience with the Queen!
Deborah would not like to be compared to a comic book character with superhuman strength, preferring to define herself as a girl with a dog, her beloved running companion Maggie, but make no mistake Deborah is a Wonder Woman. In her record continuous run around Australia to raise money for breast cancer awareness and research, Deborah battled injury and natural disaster to achieve her goal.
I had the privilege of speaking to Deborah recently about the launch of the book that tells her story, titled appropriately, Running Pink by Megan Norris.
Deborah’s steely determination comes from many sources. Having had a difficult childhood with an absent dad and a stern grandfather Deborah had to believe in herself to get through times when her self-esteem was put to the test.
Deborah’s determination also comes from the fact she has gone through breast cancer herself and overcome it. Her determination probably most of all comes from her desire to help the many women who told their stories to her during her run. One particular lady, that like Deborah was a young woman attacked by this horrible disease. This young woman despite her own pessimistic prognosis emailed Deborah at a dark time in her own journey when she was seeking to recover from two broken feet and didn’t know if the treatment would work and she would run again. This young woman’s emails got Deborah back on the road again.
Deborah was told she had breast cancer when she was only 36 years old. It was a shock because Deborah is an athlete and very fit. Deborah doesn’t like the idea proposed by some that breast cancer is a ‘lifestyle’ disease and that it can be prevented. If that were true then the ultra-fit Deborah and many of the young healthy and fit women whose stories are described in the book would all be immune from this disease. Yet it affected them all.
Deborah also had no history in her family of the disease. The fact is that what some commentators say is true; breast cancer is no discriminator of person. Having said that, Deborah agrees that because she was supremely fit and healthy it did aid in her ability for a good response to treatment and a quick recovery, so it is important to attempt to adopt good choices in eating well and getting frequent exercise. To be as fit and healthy as possible is always a good starting point.
Another important thing in dealing with cancer or any health issue is the mindset or philosophy. Deborah was always very positive even when the doctors that treated her for her broken feet weren’t very positive of her running again. Deborah is worried by the fact that after treatment for breast cancer many women are told to go on and pick up their lives but are given little guidance. Deborah believes women should be monitored more and given support over the crucial next phase when many still feel glum and fearful of a return of the disease. Support groups are very good but Deborah also likes the ideas of women setting themselves goals such as running.
It doesn’t have to be a big goal like Deborah’s but with every little achievement a woman becomes more confident and strong in her belief in herself. Really we have come full circle to Deborah’s own battle with self-esteem in her early years. After something as shattering as breast cancer a person needs their confidence and self-esteem to be strengthened and for those taking the breast cancer treatment medication Tamoxfin, which might cause depression, it is important to have healthy exercise to curb possible depression.
Deborah has a name for this time of going back to being well again. She says the idea of doctors telling people to go back and lead a normal life, when everything is forever changed isn’t a thoughtful one and the person might be still very fragile. Instead Deborah tells them to go out and live ‘a new normal!’
Deborah was rightly awarded Tasmanian of the year in 2011 and although she doesn’t like accolades it has been a chance to inspire and give others hope. Deborah says it was ‘a fabulous opportunity’.
What is next for Deborah? Deborah is taking a holiday with her Mum to London but it’s not just a holiday with Deborah taking along some fellow athletes who have overcome breast cancer and they will be running the London Marathon.
After that Deborah plans to take her running even more international, to Antarctica and she is on the lookout for sponsorship!
When during her run Deborah was in Western Australia she fulfilled a childhood ambition of climbing the Gloucester Tree. This tree is the largest fire lookout tree in the world and perhaps there is a metaphor here. A tall young woman climbing even taller not only physically but metaphorically as she rises high in everyone’s gratitude and esteem.
Running Pink by Megan Norris is available now.
