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Barry McGuigan's son chokes back tears as he dedicates London Marathon to late sister who tragically died from cancer

Barry McGuigan's son chokes back tears as he dedicates London Marathon to late sister who tragically died from cancer

The Irish Sun28-04-2025
SHANE McGUIGAN dedicated his involvement in the London Marathon to his late sister Danika.
Actress Danika McGuigan
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Danika McGuigan died from bowel cancer in 2019
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Her brother Shane ran the London Marathon in her honour
She has been lovingly remembered every day since by her boxing legend dad Barry, and her boxing trainer brother Shane.
He completed the race with an impressive time of 3:08:17 while raising vital funds for Young Lives vs Cancer, the UK's leading charity for children and young people with cancer.
And speaking to the BBC after crossing the finish line of the London Marathon, he held back tears as he paid tribute to her.
He said: "My sister got diagnosed with leukemia at 11 to 13.
Read More on London Marathon
"She got through it and then she unfortunately passed away with bowel cancer at 33 so I'm doing it for her."
Asked if he had a message for those watching on and considering doing the marathon or any other form of exercise, he said: "Do it, go push yourself.
"I saw a lot of people unfortunately collapsing with dehydration and stuff, so within your limits, push yourself but go and do something.
"Go and challenge yourself.
Most read in Athletics
"Health and fitness is such a big part of people - it should be a big part of people's lives.
"You only get one body, you only get one life and there are plenty of people who are not able to move so go out there and move."
I'm A Celeb's Barry McGuigan breaks down in tears as he opens up about daughter's heartbreaking death live on GMB
Shane's dad earned plaudits from fans when he shed tears remembering Danika on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here last year.
And speaking to The Sun after he was voted off the show, the 63-year-old revealed
He told The Sun: 'It was the saddest thing that's ever happened to me and my wife. We'll never recover from that.
'I can't explain to you how sad it's been for us for the last five years.
'She was with me in there. She watched the show regularly.
'I probably wouldn't have got as far as I did without her being with me and I know she travels everywhere with me.
'I believe that 100 per cent. And we'll see each other again sometime.'
He added: 'I think about Nika all the time. She would have loved to have seen me on this show. She would have been so proud of me, I know that.
'I know she was responsible for me getting into this. I just know she was.'
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