Athletics-Breast cancer survivor to run London marathon topless to help erase mastectomy stigma

FILE PHOTO: An undated handout image of Louise Butcher in Braunton, North Devon, Britain. Louise Butcher/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

(Reuters) - Louise Butcher hopes that when she becomes the first woman to run the London Marathon topless on Sunday, having had a double mastectomy in 2022, the thousands of supporters lining the course see a powerful image of strength.

The 50-year-old breast cancer survivor runs topless to help erase the stigma around the disease -- and there are few bigger platforms, she said, than one of the world's biggest road races.