Running for her life!

As a passionate triathlete with a zest for life, Rachel Monahan is no stranger to physical challenges. But when she takes on the New York Marathon in November 2025, it won’t be to achieve a personal best—it’ll be to celebrate survival, raise awareness, and give back.

In late 2022, Rachel began feeling run-down. Attributing her fatigue to triathlon training, she pushed through. But during a pool sprint, a sharp pain under her ribs made her pause.

“As a triathlete, you’re used to little aches and pains,” she said. “I didn’t stop training because the Forster triathlon was a club championship event, and I didn’t want to let the team down. I waited until afterwards to rest, but the pain got worse. When I couldn’t cough or laugh without hurting, I saw my doctor.”

Initially prescribed rest and anti-inflammatories, Rachel sensed something more serious. A few weeks later, blood tests revealed alarming infection markers, and she was sent straight to emergency.

“After three days in the hospital having various tests, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer. It was a shock,” Rachel said. “The hardest thing to accept was the uncertainty. I work in IT – a career where things are generally black and white. This was not.”

She underwent a hysterectomy, followed by 18 weeks of chemotherapy. Throughout her treatment, Rachel’s family and triathlon community offered unwavering support. “The staff at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital were amazing. My family came to every treatment, and the triathlon community rallied around me.”

The long road back

Though determined to stay active, chemotherapy limited Rachel’s capacity. With a port frequently inserted and removed, swimming was out of the question. “On some days, I would just watch others exercise,” she said. But slowly, she began to move again.

“When my hair grew back, I started feeling more like myself. I got back out in public. Through 2023, I had regular check-ups. Then, in January 2024, my CA125 blood marker, the one they watch for ovarian cancer, began rising again. I Googled the numbers and was disheartened.”

Despite the scare, she went ahead with a planned hike through New Zealand’s Milford Sound with high school friends. Shortly after returning, she faced another six months of chemotherapy.

“My initial surgery had been optimal, but some tiny lesions in my abdomen had grown,” she said. “This second chemo was tougher—two drugs once a month. I felt like I was taking one step forward and two steps backwards, but I got through it.”

Rachel now receives preventative infusions every three weeks.

A second chance

After her first recovery, Rachel signed up for the inaugural Cherish Challenge to Mt Kilimanjaro but had to withdraw due to the cancer recurrence. So, when the opportunity to run the New York Marathon popped up in 2025, she didn’t hesitate.

“I don’t have any active cancer, and I’m living my second-chance life,” she said. “The New York Marathon is a way for me to raise awareness and funds for Cherish to support research that helps women survive and thrive after cancer.”

Her network is rallying once again. Her brother is chopping onions for an upcoming Bunnings sausage sizzle, her triathlon club is sharing her campaign, and her workplace held a teal morning tea to raise funds.

Spreading the word

Rachel is determined to do more than just raise funds—she’s also spreading awareness about ovarian cancer.

“I talk to as many people as I can. I want women to listen to their bodies and not brush away pain or other symptoms,” she said. “There’s no early detection test for ovarian cancer, and the five-year survival rate is just 49%. I also tell women to consider getting their ovaries out if they’re not planning to use them—it’s a simple keyhole procedure and could save their life.”

As for the marathon, Rachel’s focus is clear: “I’m going to plod along. I’m not aiming for a PB; I’m doing this for Cherish. I’ll be glad to finish, and I know every dollar we raise together will go to research.”

By supporting Rachel in the New York Marathon, you’ll be helping to fund research into ovarian cancer and raising awareness about a disease that too often goes undetected. 

Donate to Rachel’s fundraising page and follow her marathon journey here.

If you would like to ask a question about fundraising or give us some feedback, please contact us via the form and let’s chat.

Alternatively, please contact Amy Hyslop, Fundraising and Development Manager on 0488 333 723 or email fundraising@cherish.org.au

You can also direct message us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

If you need professional, confidential support about a gynaecological cancer diagnosis or treatment, please call Cancer Council’s free service on 13 11 20.

Cherish Women’s Cancer Foundation | Registered as Gynaecological Cancer Foundation Ltd | ABN 86 158 553 229