WORLD'S STRONGEST GRANNY

She's beaten cancer three times and now has a world record!

-  Keeley Henderson

It's official - octogenarian and three time cancer survivor Heather Maddern is the world's strongest great-grandma.

In December, Heather set multiple Australian and world power lifting records when she dead lifted a whopping 80kg at a competition. "If anyone had told me 12 months ago I'd be lifting 80 kilograms and setting a world record, I'd never have believed them," the 80-year-old tells Woman's Day from her Brisbane home.

"But power lifting has given me a new lease of life." The Mater Private Hospital Red land patient, who also has Parkinson's disease, only began strength training last April. "I needed something to inspire me and give me that zest for living again," she explains.

After 21 weeks of chemotherapy and 25 doses of radiation, and having 20 lymph nodes surgically removed, Heather wanted to feel better. "I was totally fatigued. I didn't even have the willpower to walk the dogs," she says.

HEALTH BATTLE

Heather, who has two children, three grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren, reached out to local strength trainer Jill Cox for help.