Hannah and I are completing the Belfast City Marathon in celebration of our 30th birthdays later this year. Having ran with Jog Moira since 2018 this has been something we have always admired when other members have completed and something we wanted to achieve ourselves.

We want to raise as much money as we can to thank the NHS for its incredible work and for all it has done for my mum. It is so important to us that money is raised to help with research, care for families in need and to raise awareness for Ovarian Cancer.

In August 2021, my mum was sent for an ultrasound scan of her abdomen and was told that a large mass was detected above her uterus. She was red flagged for an MRI and within a matter of hours our whole world as a family was turned upside down.  My mum, who has worked for a GP Practice her entire life gave herself a death sentence, expecting the worst with what is known as ‘the silent killer’ which is Ovarian Cancer. After multiple scans and blood tests mum was very quickly told that she required a full hysterectomy which was scheduled in October 2021.

Luckily, due to the first-class care mum was given, her surgery was expedited and a 15cm mass was removed and she was fortunate to make a full recovery.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the same outcome for many women and families.

In Northern Ireland around 165 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year with only 35% survival for ten or more years. Ovarian cancer is the 6th most common cause of cancer death in females in the UK accounting for 5% of all  cancer deaths in females in the UK (2017-2019) 

When diagnosed at its earliest stage, almost all (98%) women with ovarian cancer will survive their disease for one year or more compared with more that 1 in 2 (54%) people when the disease is diagnosed at the latest stage. Any donation how big or small could help shift these harrowing statistics.

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland is your local cancer champion, here to help you and your family if you have cancer. Helping you take steps to a healthier life, to lower your risk and to bring a more hopeful future by funding ground breaking research.By taking part in the 2023 Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon for Cancer Focus Northern Ireland youll be helping reduce the impact of cancer on local peoples lives; educating the community with our range of cancer prevention programmes so that they will lessen their risk of getting cancer, funding local scientific research into the causes and treatment of cancer and campaigning for a better health policy to protect our community and its future.