“I didn’t want Breast Cancer to define me, but ironically, it has more than anything else in my life. The difference is, I have written the narrative.”
In 2022, Erin Kennedy was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer at the age of 29, less than a year after winning Paralympic gold in Tokyo. Just days after her diagnosis, Erin returned to compete for Great Britain, continuing to race through chemotherapy and winning European gold before stepping back to complete treatment.
After 15 rounds of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, Erin returned to international competition exactly one year after finishing treatment, leading the crew to an unbeaten 2023 season before winning Paralympic gold once again at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.
Erin has documented her cancer journey publicly and was awarded an OBE for Services to Rowing and Breast Cancer Awareness.
“I didn’t to lose my identity. I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other, trying to get better.”
— Erin Kennedy, during an interview with BBC Breakfast
Raising Awareness
Erin has used her platform to raise awareness of breast cancer in young women. She has documented every stage of her journey on social media from fertility preservation to the challenges of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy.
Her posts are open, honest and positive and candidly show just what it is like to be a young woman with breast cancer whilst also pursuing her goals.
Erin’s story has been featured in the global press, from Brazil to Australia and has captured the hearts of the nation. She has appeared on every major British news outlet as well as CNN, NBC and the Olympic Channel.
Campaigns & charity partners
Bring Erin’s story to your next event.
Erin is passionate about sharing her experiences to inspire, encourage and connect with others. Her unique perspective on applying lessons from high performance sport to some of life’s toughest challenges makes her message both relatable and uplifting.
To learn more about Erin’s story or enquire about an upcoming event or opportunity, please get in touch.
