'I felt more like myself again' says mother who joined Couch to 5K after cancer treatment
Vikki Felton has joined a new campaign launching in Hampshire to encourage people with health issues to find their confidence again through exercise
A Hampshire mother who underwent life-changing cancer treatment that removed most of her nose found her confidence again after joining a Couch to 5K programme, and is now encouraging others to do the same.
Vikki Felton was diagnosed with an aggressive form of nasal cancer in August 2024.
She underwent extensive surgery to remove most of her nose, weeks of intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, leaving her struggling physically and emotionally.
"I was in a very dark place," said Vikki. "I hadn't eaten solid food for months, I hadn't left the house because I looked different and didn't feel well, and I was exhausted all the time while trying to care for my young daughter.
"I didn't have the energy to take my daughter on days out, cook meals or do everyday things.
With her confidence shattered and energy levels at an all-time low, Vikki, from Botley, decided to start a Couch to 5K programme as a way to begin reconnecting with the outside world.
"I accepted that I had to leave the house at some point," she said. "Going for a little walk locally seemed like a good idea, but I didn't feel confident.
I thought if I put a cap on and went for a run, people wouldn't notice me. I also wasn't willing to accept being tired all the time and feeling awful."
Vikki said: "Within a couple of weeks, I realised I had more energy. I wasn't napping during the day anymore, I felt brighter, healthier and more like myself again."
The impact extended far beyond physical fitness. As her strength returned, Vikki regained her confidence and her ability to enjoy life with her family.
“As my fitness improved, I felt like I could contribute more to family life again. Movement helped rebuild my trust in my body after cancer had taken that away,” she said.
“If I look back to where I was before I started moving again, I was hiding away, ashamed of how I looked and worried about the future. Starting Couch to 5K set me on a completely different path. I now have the energy and zest for life that I thought I'd lost."
Vikki has since joined the We Are Undefeatable movement, a National Lottery and Sport England-backed campaign which encourages people living with long-term health conditions to find ways to be active.
Developed by physical activity charity Energise Me alongside NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board and Public Health teams from Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight, the campaign recognises that living with a health condition can make being active more challenging, but that every achievement, however small, deserves to be celebrated.
She hopes her experience will encourage others recovering from illness or facing difficult circumstances to recognise that even small amounts of movement can make a difference.
"Rest is important during treatment and recovery, but sitting around and doing nothing isn't always helpful. Activity, movement and re-joining life can help you feel alive again."
“Portsmouth has lots of local, free and low-cost opportunities to help people be active in ways that suit them, whatever their age, ability or circumstances. The stories featured in the We Are Undefeatable campaign are truly inspiring and show how people living with long-term health conditions can find enjoyable, achievable ways to move more," said Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Health & Care at Portsmouth City Council.
You can find out more about the We Are Undefeatable campaign, and what resources are available, here.