Two Manchester doctors and lifelong friends will race from Amsterdam to Prague in just four days to raise vital funds for Manchester-based charity Prevent Breast Cancer.
Dr Síle McDaid and Dr Libby Artingstall, founder and Medical Director of wellness clinic Projuvenate, will take on the Race Across Europe challenge from 17th to 20th September 2026. Inspired by the BBC television show Race Across the World, teams of two navigate checkpoints and complete challenges using limited means and tight scheduling.
The challenge has deeply personal significance for Síle, who was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the age of 33.
Despite being fit and healthy and working as a doctor, she underwent chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. Her treatment was successful and she is now cancer-free, but its effects continued to affect her health.
In 2025, Síle suffered a serious hip fracture in a skiing accident, an injury partly associated with the effect her cancer treatment had on her bone density. She required surgery, spent months using a wheelchair and faced a long and difficult rehabilitation.
During the lowest point in her recovery, Síle questioned whether she would ever walk normally again.
Libby and her brother, Rob Artingstall, Projuvenate’s Head of Physiotherapy and former lead physiotherapist for England Rugby League, supported her through an intensive programme focused on recovery, rebuilding physical strength and restoring mental resilience at their Manchester clinic.
Rob used specialist physiotherapy and a central part of her rehabilitation involved Projuvenate’s R-Force® anti-gravity treadmill. The technology reduces weight through the lower limbs, allowing Síle to rebuild her strength and progress safely from using a wheelchair to walking independently.
Alongside the physical rehabilitation, Libby provided mental wellness support that included EXOMIND®. The non-invasive technology uses transcranial magnetic stimulation to deliver magnetic pulses to areas of the brain associated with functions such as emotional regulation and cognitive control. It was used as part of Síle’s wider wellbeing programme to support her resilience, motivation and confidence during rehabilitation.
Now back on her feet, Síle is preparing to take on a challenge that once would have seemed impossible.
Síle said: “There were times after breaking my hip when I genuinely wondered whether I would walk properly again. I felt physically and mentally broken, but Libby and Rob supported me through every stage of my recovery.
“To go from being in a wheelchair to racing across Europe feels extraordinary. This challenge is a celebration of how far I have come, but it is also about helping to create a future in which fewer women and their families have to hear the words ‘you have breast cancer’.
“Prevent Breast Cancer’s work is incredibly important to me. Every donation, however large or small, will help fund research that could protect future generations.”
Síle and Libby have been close friends since meeting at medical school. They trained as doctors together, became psychiatrists and have supported one another through many chapters of their personal and professional lives.
Libby said: “Síle has shown incredible courage and determination throughout her cancer treatment and rehabilitation. Seeing her rebuild her strength, confidence and independence has been inspiring.
“We have been the best of friends since medical school, so taking on this adventure together feels very special. We know it will test us, but we will be thinking about everyone affected by breast cancer and the difference this fundraising can make.”
Prevent Breast Cancer is the only UK charity dedicated entirely to predicting and preventing breast cancer. It is based at the Nightingale Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, the UK’s only breast cancer prevention centre.
Its work includes pioneering scientific research, breast-awareness education and initiatives designed to support communities at increased risk of the disease.
The charity’s preventative mission closely reflects Projuvenate’s focus on helping people take a proactive approach to their physical health, mental wellbeing and long-term quality of life.
Ahead of the race, Projuvenate will host a fundraising event called An Evening of Fashion, Beauty and Breast Awareness from 6.30pm to 9pm on Wednesday 16 September.
The event will feature an Autumn/Winter 2026 fashion showcase from Boudicca Boutique, a live make-up masterclass with Cheshire make-up artist Cate Hatton and expert breast-awareness advice from representatives of The Wilmslow Hospital and the Nightingale Centre. Guests will also receive an arrival drink and refreshments.
Tickets cost £35, with all proceeds donated directly to Prevent Breast Cancer.
Libby added: “We want the evening to be uplifting, informative and great fun, while giving women access to potentially lifesaving breast-health information.
“It is also the perfect send-off before Síle and I begin our race the following morning. We would love people from across Greater Manchester and Cheshire to join us, support this vital cause and help us reach our £3,000 target.”
Tickets for An Evening of Fashion, Beauty and Breast Awareness are available at:
https://tinyurl.com/mr34vh3w
Donations to Team Projuvenate’s Race Across Europe fundraiser can be made at:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/team-projuvenate-race-across-europe