30/09/2026
💗 A huge congratulations to our amazing 5K Your Way Ambassador, Ann McBrien, who received her British Empire Medal (BEM) today at Hillsborough Castle. 👑
If you’ve ever attended 5K Your Way Belfast, you will undoubtedly have been welcomed by Ann — and you’ll know just what an incredible, kind and lovely woman she is!
This honour is such a fitting recognition of her absolutely tireless work and campaigning for people living with breast cancer — particularly those living with secondary breast cancer.
As a stage 4 patient herself, Ann has used her voice relentlessly to campaign for better research, treatment, services and outcomes for people living with secondary breast cancer.
Together with her late friend Julie Anne Lillis, Ann tirelessly campaigned for better data on people living with metastatic breast cancer in Northern Ireland. Their advocacy helped lead to research providing estimates of the number of people diagnosed with and living with metastatic breast cancer — vital information for ensuring the right support and services are provided. 🎗️
Ann has also been instrumental in the campaign for NICE to approve Enhertu — a treatment that can extend the lives of people living with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer. Following its recent recommendation for use in England, Ann continues to advocate passionately for people living with secondary breast cancer here in Northern Ireland, ensuring that patients here are not forgotten.
Today, Professor Sir Michael McBride, Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer, presented Ann with her BEM and paid tribute to her tireless work to improve cancer research and services for all.
We are incredibly proud to have Ann as part of our 5K Your Way family. 💗
I think you’ll all agree… she’s some woman for one woman! 🙌🏻
So very well deserved, Ann. Thank you for everything you do — and everything you continue to do for so many. 👑🎗️🏃♀️
