Danielle Shipard

Cancer Stops With Me!

On Saturday 2 May 2026, I’ll be challenging myself to walk 35km in the New Town Toyota Walk for Women’s Cancer.

This walk is deeply personal to me.

Last year I heard the words no one ever wants to hear: “You have breast cancer.”

You want the stats? Here are mine that I saw with my own two eyes:

10 women are there for the mammogram, 5 get to leave and go home and live their lives. 5 remained. There was me – Triple Negative breast cancer, rare and aggressive type. 2 ladies sitting in front of each other to only realise they were cousins that haven’t seen each other in years, one with her daughter, an 80 year old – not her first rodeo, returning after decades of treatment and the lady that sat beside me where we both held each other and cried, her diagnosis so far advanced she was receiving pet scans that day and told to get her family to come back to the hospital, she was due to fly out in weeks to see her daughter and grandchild in the USA. Did she go on that holiday, I wonder every day.

What followed was six months of chemotherapy, surgery in January and I'm currently receiving radiation. It was a journey that tested me physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally but it also showed me the incredible strength of the human spirit and the importance of research, treatment and support.

It was no small feat, it was grueling. Some know and most don’t, there were times when I wanted to pull the pin and walk away. Chemo destroys you from the inside out, it took me to places I never thought existed within me. I’ve cried, screamed and yelled through it, only to come out the other side, the same but different.

My body is still showing signs of the chemo and the damage it has done. My spirit won’t let me stay down, not physically, not mentally. I was someone that walked 20,000 minimum a day to only managing no more than 1000 a day, it has lead me to almost have to learn to walk properly and further distances and fight to get my preconditioned body back because I want to go back to work! I want to go back to hiking with my son, Zachary!

Today, I walked over 5kms in 50mins, the fasted time yet. It has taken me weeks to get up to this, no small feat. I’m pushing myself every day to walk more, I’m up to 10,000 steps a day, and as of Monday I’ll change my goal to 15,000!

Today I’m incredibly grateful to be able to stand here and walk — and I’m doing it for every woman who is still fighting, for those who have walked this path before us, and for the mums, sisters, daughters, friends and loved ones who mean everything to us.

I’m committed to raising vital funds for women’s cancer research at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, because the women of WA deserve the chance to live long, healthy lives free from cancer.

There is still so much work to be done so that fewer people have to hear those life-changing words. Research saves lives, and every contribution helps bring us closer to better treatments, earlier detection and ultimately a cure.

Over the coming weeks I’ll be training and fundraising in the lead up to the event. If you’d like to walk with me, I would absolutely love the company.  Join TEAM SHIP!

If not, any donation — big or small — will make a real difference. I've set my target for $2000, but if anyone knows me, I go big or I go home, so I'm aiming to raise more!

Thank you for supporting this cause that is now so close to my heart.

Let’s walk toward a cancer-free future — together.

8.5km beautiful morning for it 🌞

On fire yesterday. A Wild Fire today 🔥

Biggest walk to date since diagnosis!