A retired rowing champion recovering from cancer has taken up her sport again to raise funds for research into the disease. Anne Yates from Northampton hasn't raced since February 2008, when she won a bronze medal at the World Indoor Rowing Championships, held in Boston, USA.

Since being diagnosed with breast cancer just four months ago, Anne has set herself the challenge of racing at four major indoor rowing events which are held throughout the winter season to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. She wants to raise funds for research after taking part in a clinical trial of a new drug which scientists hope will help to shrink breast tumours prior to surgery.

"There's no history of cancer in my family so I was completely shocked when I was diagnosed," said Anne, now 56. "My Consultant, having confirmed my cancer diagnosis, invited me to join the trial. He also explained to me, the treatment I was due to receive was simply not available even two years ago, thereby reinforcing the need for continued research into cancer. I thought wow - aren't I lucky! Thank goodness for such wonderful scientists and doctors!"

Anne, who retired as a Building Society Manager in 2008, was given the drug Letrazole for a total of four weeks, commencing two weeks before her surgery. The trial, supported by Cancer Research UK, is looking at whether hormone therapy will shrink the tumour prior to surgery, and help reduce the risk of breast cancer returning. Anne had a lump and lymph nodes removed. Three weeks of radiotherapy followed but it wasn't long before Anne was contacting her old rowing pals to discuss rehab exercise with a view to taking up rowing once again. Last month Anne completed her first one-mile indoor row competition, rowing one-handed because surgery has left her weak down one side. "I was overwhelmed by the support I got," said Anne who raced against the clock alongside Championship rowers in Grimsby. "I've never received so many hugs in my life it was a hugely emotional moment.

"I wanted to raise money for Cancer Research UK to say thank you to those wonderful people for what they've done for me. The researchers can't do their job without funding and rowing is what I do best. Today's research becomes tomorrow's treatment and, with that, new hope." So far Anne has raised almost 900 pounds. She will race again at the next Championship event in Newark in November and again at the Welsh Championships in Cardiff in December. Her final race of the season will be in January when she competes in the English Championships in Manchester.

Paula Young, spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK in Northampton, said: "Cancer Research UK relies entirely on voluntary donations to fund its life-saving research so we're enormously grateful to Anne for her hard work and wish her every bit of success with her fundraising." To sponsor Anne visit :http://www.justgiving.com/anne-yates//