Anyone who does a Parkrun on a Saturday at 9 am will know how good a run can make you feel – however running for others, for a reason other than ourselves can bring about real positive change.
The Race for Life run takes place in Carlisle’s Bitts Park next month, July 14 and there is still time to go from couch to 5k and register for this run. Like Parkrun can be a 5k walk, so the Race for Life can be a gentle jog or stroll.
And this week a new run for another cancer charity event has been launched for Cumbria – the Children’s Cancer Run
You can start preparing now for this new run that was launched in Carlisle by the daughter of a friend and former colleague.
Holly Brough is a very special little girl, an inspiration to us all. She is bringing the Children’s Cancer Run to Carlisle for the first time.
This hugely successful charity run raises funds for research into childhood cancers.
The new run was launched at Bitts Park in Carlisle by Holly who has battled childhood cancer herself and wanted to help others in her shoes.
The Brough family were also joined by the Headteachers and pupils from Houghton and Shankhill Primary Schools, who are registered to enter a school team into the Children’s Cancer Run this September.
The Children’s Cancer Run comes to Carlisle on Sunday 29 September as part of North of England Children’s Cancer Research (NECCR) 40th Anniversary celebrations. The run, which is held annually in Newcastle, has already raised over £7 million to help fund research into childhood cancers.
The charity is hoping to build on this success by bringing the run to the North West for the first time, offering a great day out for all the family whilst raising money for a vital cause. It is hoped that over 1,000 children and adults will take part in this inaugural run, raising a further £30,000 for research into childhood cancers.
Entries are open now with a choice of one, three or five-mile cross-country routes, catering for all ages and abilities. All runners will receive a limited edition medal and a snack box to celebrate their achievement. All children aged 16 years and under will also receive a limited edition Children’s Cancer Run t-shirt.
An event village is planned with the CFM Roadshow in attendance, along with fairground rides, children’s activities and food stalls, making the event a great family day out.
Holly and her family have supported the Children’s Cancer Run since Holly was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in 2014, aged just two years old.
Together with friends, the family approached NECCR about the idea of holding a Children’s Cancer Run in the North West and have been hugely supportive in pulling the plans together.
Holly’s mum Caroline says: “In November 2014, following time in the Cumberland Infirmary, Holly was referred to the RVI hospital in Newcastle where she was diagnosed with leukaemia. Holly’s treatment lasted over two years.
“Overall it was a journey of chemotherapy, transfusions, steroids, the loss of her hair, lumbar punctures, hospital isolation, tests, x-rays, side effects of chemo, ‘magic sleeps’ and lots of determination and bravery.
“Our involvement with the NECCR began through Holly’s childminder, Kate.
“Kate helped create ‘Team Holly’ and in 2015 lots of Holly’s friends and family took part in our first NECCR run. This year was our 5th year of joining the run, Holly has made it to everyone. She loves the event and the fantastic atmosphere as well as raising money which goes to help fund invaluable research and help develop better treatments.
“We are really pleased to be able to help bring the run to the North West for the first time, making it more accessible to families in the area so they can share the fun and help raise funds for a fantastic cause.”
Holly age seven is encouraging everyone she knows to sign up. She said: “It is great fun and everyone can do it! You can run, walk, skip or dance your way around.”
Chris Peacock, Chairman of the NECCR, founder of the event and childhood cancer survivor himself, said: “I’m overwhelmed to see from humble beginnings 40 years ago how much the run now holds a special place in the heart of our supporters.
“We’re so excited to bring our run over to the North West, knowing how many children in the area benefit from the research carried out into developing new treatments for childhood cancer and helping to improve survival rates.
“We already have 14 local schools in the region registered to enter a team into the run and are hoping to encourage more schools to register over the next few weeks. The run is a fantastic way for people of all ages to get involved, make a difference and help more children live healthy lives in the future.”
40 years ago when the NECCR was first established, survival rates for childhood cancer were very low, at only 25%. In the past four decades, over £30 million has been raised by the public which has helped to establish the North East as world-leaders in childhood cancer research. Now, thanks to research carried out and continuous improvement in therapy, that figure is reversed, with 80% of children diagnosed with cancer surviving the disease.
All the research is carried out by a team of world-class researchers based in the NECCR laboratories at the Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre in Newcastle.
Individual and school entries for the run are open now at www.childrenscancerrun.co.uk and early bird rates are available until the end of July.
