Surviving breast cancer inspired Hampshire woman's sunrise swim

A breast cancer survivor and her 35 weeks-pregnant daughter were joined by 40 friends for a summer solstice sunrise swim off Hayling Island beach to raise money for Breast Cancer UK.

The ordeal began for Fiona Burden, who lives in Hampshire, when she found a lump in her right breast.

She said: “I was in Athens getting ready to go to a wedding. I stepped out of the shower, glanced in the mirror and realised my right nipple had inverted. I checked my breasts and found the lump.”

Fiona was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2025 and had a lumpectomy four weeks later, followed by radiotherapy in January 2026.

She said the team at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth was amazing from beginning to end.

Fiona added: "It was quite daunting and overwhelming in the beginning. I found that the best way of getting through that difficult time was to walk, swim and cycle.

“My husband John, my three grown-up children Ben, Abi and Tom, and a fantastic group of close friends gave me endless support during what was sometimes a frightening time.”

Fiona wanted to channel her experience into something positive, giving something back while encouraging others to be more aware of breast cancer.

She said: "I didn't want to just have the treatment and then go away and forget about it.”

Inspiration came from a Covid-era tradition of Fiona and a friend going open-water swimming with Fiona’s Fox Red Labrador called Bear.

When Bear died in 2023 Fiona wanted to celebrate Bear’s life and her joy of being in the sea. She heard of women doing a solstice skinny dip on the Isle of Wight and organised a Bare Swim to commemorate Bear and raise money for an Australian charity rescuing bears from captivity in countries such as Vietnam.

Fiona said: "I messaged lots of my female friends to come and do this Bare Swim for Bear and the Bears.”

Twelve women gathered on Hayling Island after dark for the swim and raised almost £1,000 for the charity.

After her breast cancer diagnosis Fiona wanted to do another swim, this time in support of Breast Cancer UK.

She said: "I felt I needed to do a swim to raise awareness, get some funds and just try to give something back. Breast Cancer UK stood out because of its strong focus on research and prevention, as well as its role in raising awareness."

Her friend Helen suggested a summer solstice swim, which Fiona thought would avoid a crowded beach and create a memorable experience.

Forty friends and Fiona's daughter Abi, who was 35 weeks pregnant, got out of bed to join her on Hayling beach at sunrise - 4.30am - on June 21. The weather and sea conditions were perfect and the event raised just over £2,000.

But Fiona felt fundraising was only part of the goal and emphasised that raising awareness was just as important. Fiona and her friends now wear their bright orange Breast Cancer UK T-shirts whenever they swim together. The message on them is ‘We can reduce our risk’.

Fiona received an NHS mammogram appointment on the same day as her diagnosis. Her oncologist told her only two-thirds of women took up their mammogram appointment, so she is passionate about encouraging women to attend screening appointments and check their breasts.

She said: "If you can find the lump early, then outcomes can be so much better. I make myself check mine because I don't want to find another lump - but it's reality."

Fiona said it was important to remind men that breast cancer can affect them too. Her husband and sons also wear Breast Cancer UK T-shirts.

Son Tom and five friends cycled unsupported from London to Amsterdam in four days to raise £3,000 for Breast Cancer Now.

Fiona is already planning her next fundraising challenge, a winter solstice swim.

She said: “At least everyone won’t have to get up early for that!”