04-08-2025
Cancer-hit mum ‘overwhelmed' after son and friends embark on 20-mile challenge
A mum from Lower Darwen, who has breast cancer, said she was 'emotional' after her son and friends completed a mammoth 20-mile run in honour of her.
Zoe Blakey, now living in Bolton, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in March, which has spread to her lymph nodes.
Her son Cayden Parsons, who was 14 at the time, decided he wanted to do something to help his mum, so embarked on a 20-mile run from Darwen to Manchester with a small group of friends.
He did this to fundraise for a holiday, to give something for his mum to look forward to between treatments.
The group set off on July 26, raising more than £1,800, which will be put towards making memories on a family holiday in North Wales.
An emotional Zoe said: 'I am so proud! I couldn't believe it when they set it up.
"It's Cayden's way of trying to help, as it has been a very difficult time.
'I was overwhelmed when he told me the plan. It's lovely that they got together and wondered how they could help him.
"They are teenagers with a lot going on for themselves. For them to think about me is overwhelming.
'I want to say a huge thank you to the parents who helped set it up – and the boys who did it and people who donated. It's lovely how people come together when things are tough.'
Zoe, 47, said her cancer diagnosis has been hard for the whole family.
She is undergoing chemotherapy to reduce her tumour before having a double mastectomy.
She said: 'It has been a really difficult time. The chemo has been difficult, and I haven't reacted well to it and have ended up in hospital twice.
"It's very tough, emotionally and physically. As a family, it has been a lot to deal with.'
Zoe, who owns Brekkies and Brews café in New Chapel St, Mill Hill, said she has had to leave loved ones in charge of the business.
She said: 'My family and friends are running the business for me.
"It's a tough time but I try to be as positive as I can. You need to take it a day at a time and keep going.
'Financially, it is difficult too, with us running our own business. There's no way we can afford a getaway at the moment.'
'What [the boys] have done is a big boost for us – we're set to spend the fundraiser money on a trip to North Wales this month.
"It will allow us to spend time as a family and have a bit of normality.'
Zoe also wants to raise awareness of cancer and encourage people to be persistent with doctors if they think something is wrong.
She said: 'I want to raise awareness. I was going back and forth to the doctors with breast pain and was told this was menopausal symptoms.
'I want to get awareness out there – push if you think something is not right and keep going back to GP.'
She suffered from breast and lymph node pain, as well as severe fatigue.
Zoe said: 'I put my fatigue down to general life, running a business and home life - but it turned out to be cancer.'
Cayden, now 15, said: 'Through it all, my mum stayed strong for me.
"I wanted to do something special for her, something that would lift her spirits and give her a well-deserved break from the reality we have been living.
'My mates stepped up to support me and together [we were] hoping to raise enough money to give my mum an unforgettable experience.'
To make a donation visit and search 'Help Cayden give his mum the trip she deserves'.
