A WOMAN from Ashton has been inspired by her brother to embark on her first long run to support a cancer charity in her father’s memory.
Emily Hayes is taking on this weekend’s Run Tatton Half Marathon to raise awareness of bowel cancer, honouring the memory of her dad Peter.
Peter underwent over 80 chemotherapy treatments after being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2017, before he passed away four years later.
His courage and positivity left a lasting impact on his family, leading to Emily’s brother James completing a fundraising challenge to raise £2,802 for The Christie.
Inspired by his efforts, Emily decided to do some fundraising for the charity herself, so she signed up for the half marathon in Tatton Park, Knutsford, on Sunday, November 10 along with her fiance Ross Wick.
“I signed up for Run Tatton as I’m keen to fundraise for The Christie before my 30th birthday in December,” Emily explained.
“I’ve taken part in parkruns and have run up to 10k in casual runs but never taken part in longer events, like this Tatton Park Half Marathon. My mum Mandy and my brother James and his girlfriend Amelia will all be cheering us on from the sidelines.”
Emily and Ross have been training along the canal close to where they live and have joined a local running club, which they have really enjoyed.
“We are extremely grateful for The Christie and all that they do,” she added. “They provided a lifeline for my dad and supported our family through what was a really difficult time.”
The Christie charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust to help cancer patients and their families in the North West and across the UK.
Josh Hughff, mass participation events manager at The Christie charity, commented: “Emily’s dedication and tribute to her father, together with her impressive fundraising efforts, embody the spirit of our community.
“We wish her and Ross the best of luck in the run and thank them for their incredible support.”
Emily and Ross have already raised over £1,000 and you can make a donation via their JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/emily-ross