Latest news with #PrettyMuddy
Belfast Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Race For Life: Two NI friends in cancer remission reveal their ‘singing lifeline' during Belfast event
Dawn Mackey and Avril Campbell were invited stars at this year's event held at Stormont on Sunday. The event, which supports Cancer Research UK, includes 3k, 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy challenges for adults and children, raising millions for cancer research each year. The pair, both in remission from breast cancer, sounded the starter horn to send around 2,000 participants off on the 3k and 5k courses during the morning. More than £200,000 was raised by the event, helping scientists develop new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. After serving as official starters, Dawn and Avril joined the 50-strong Rock Choir from Lisburn, led by Clare Galway, outside Stormont buildings to motivate race participants along the route. The friends say being part of the choir has helped them cope with their cancer journey. Dawn (60) from Craigavon was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2024 after a routine screening, despite having no symptoms. A retired district nurse, she said the screening service saved her life. Dawn has since had surgery, five radiotherapy sessions, and started taking tamoxifen—a drug proven effective by Cancer Research UK-funded research. Discussing her journey to remission, Dawn explained she is on a mission to 'raise awareness about early detection and screening.' 'When I was diagnosed with cancer I went into 'nurse mode' at first and tried to protect my loved ones. I stayed positive on the outside, but inside I was frightened,' she said. 'Thank goodness for screening, as without it I'd never have detected there was anything wrong. I'm well now, so it's important to me to do everything I can to raise awareness about early detection and screening. Dawn added that the support around her, including using music as an outlet, helped her cope. 'I had an amazing consultant, oncologist, breast nurse and radiotherapy team. 'My family supported me every step of the way while the choir gave me empathy — and most importantly laughter. Singing with the choir helped bring the joyous part of me back, and screening helped save my life.' 'It was a fantastic day at Race for Life Belfast, full of emotion, courage, tears, laughter and hope' Music has also helped Avril, 56, from Banbridge, who will mark nine years since finishing breast cancer treatment this September. She underwent surgery, 16 chemotherapy sessions, 23 radiotherapy sessions, and later started tamoxifen medication. The mum of three said each member of the Rock Choir is inspirational and she is 'proud to be a part of' it, adding that it is 'one of the happiest one and a half hours of my week.' 'Our leader Clare is inspirational as are the choir members. I'm proud to be part of it.' The choir performed hits including Don't Stop Me Now by Queen and Super Trouper by Abba. Earlier in the day, International United Ms United Kingdom beauty queen Anouska Black of Craigavon sounded the start horn for the 10k participants. Anouska, 35, said: 'It was an honour to open this year's Race for Life Belfast and I've loved cheering everyone on. 'Both my grandfathers sadly passed away with cancer and I know it's a disease that touches so many families. Thankfully, there are many more effective treatments out there today, making it possible for people to get through cancer but that's been made possible thanks to the generosity of people raising funds for life-saving research. That's why I'm in awe of every single person who crossed the finish line.' Speaking after the event, Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK's spokeswoman in Northern Ireland, commented: 'It was a fantastic day at Race for Life Belfast, full of emotion, courage, tears, laughter and hope as people celebrated the lives of those dear to them who have survived cancer and remembered loved ones lost to the disease.' She added: 'Sadly nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime** but all of us can support the research that will beat it. 'We're proud that Race for Life has had such a positive impact. Every pound raised supports our life-saving work, which has helped double cancer survival in the UK over the last 50 years.'
The Courier
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Great pictures as hundreds of runners take part in Race for Life in Kirkcaldy
More than 1,500 runners united against Cancer during Sunday's Race for Life Fife. Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy became a sea of pink as people completed the 3k, 5k and 10k courses. And others splashed through mud-spattered obstacles and a scramble net thanks to Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events. This year, medals were presented by Kirkcaldy MSP David Torrance, who lost his dad Tom to brain cancer in 2014. First home in the 5k event was 15-year-old Dennis Milne, a member of Team Carstairs. Meanwhile, Vicki Blowman, 51, of Kirkcaldy, took part in memory of sister Vanessa Poxon, who died from kidney cancer last year aged 52. Vicki was joined by Vanessa's daugher Megan Price, 16, and niece Natasha Blowman, 20, as well as mum Mary. Lisa Adams, Race for Life organiser Cancer Research UK, said she was grateful to everyone who took part. 'No matter how cancer affects us, life is worth racing for,' she said. Cancer Research UK has supplied us with some of the best pictures from the day.
Wales Online
03-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
The best pictures as thousands of people run Cardiff's Pretty Muddy race
Thousands of people took to Cardiff's Bute Park to take part in Cancer Research UK's Pretty Muddy obstacle course. The race on Saturday, May 3, saw the park become a sea of pink and brown with around 4,000 children and adults taking part on the course at Coopers Field. 11-year-old Abi Knox, from Llandaff, sounded the horn which saw runners get underway. Abi was running in memory of her mum, Jenny, who died of breast cancer two years ago. Abi said: "It meant a lot to start the event in my mum's memory. I took part with my friends Steffan and Lottie and it was so much fun. My favourite obstacle was the big slide at the end. It was a great day and I loved taking part." Cancer Research say each year 20,200 people in Wales are diagnosed with cancer but through their research we can move towards a world free from the fear of a devastating diagnosis. Ruth Amies, Cancer Research UK's spokesperson in Wales, said: "It was a fantastic day in Cardiff - full of emotion, courage, tears, laughter and hope as people celebrated the lives of those dear to them who have survived cancer and remembered loved ones lost to the disease. "Now we're asking everyone who took part to return the money they're raised as soon as possible. Every donation, every pound raised will make a real difference." You can see the best pictures here:
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chance to take part in Race for Life event in Cardiff
People are being invited to join Cardiff's Race for Life. The Cancer Research UK events, which raise funds for life-saving research, are returning to the city. Anyone who joins between Monday, March 17, and Sunday, April 6, can claim 30 per cent off the entry fee as part of a special sale by using the code 30SPRING. The Race for Life events take place at Coopers Field, Bute Park, Cardiff, and are open to all ages and abilities. On Saturday, May 3, there is a chance to take part in Pretty Muddy, a 5k mud-splattered obstacle course, and there's a Pretty Muddy Kids option for children aged six to 12. And on Sunday, May 4, people can choose from 3k, 5k, and 10k events. Sam Morris, Cancer Research UK's spokesperson in Cardiff, said: "No matter how cancer affects us, life is worth racing for. "We'd love for as many people as possible across South Wales to join us at Race for Life. "There is an event for everyone and we mean everyone. "Our events are strictly non-competitive which means everyone can have a go and love every minute. "There's no pressure to finish in a certain time, just give it what you can." Visit the Race For Life website to sign up.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in pregnancy'
A woman who was diagnosed with bowel cancer when she was eight months pregnant has described how her first thought was to deliver her baby safely. Nikki Penrice, from Banbury, Oxfordshire, gave birth to a daughter, suffered a perforated bowel and had emergency surgery within the space of 12 days. She said her daughter Connie, now aged three, was a "miracle" and helped to save her life. Ms Penrice, who has had chemotherapy and a stoma reversal, is preparing to run a Cancer Research UK Race for Life event again later this year. During the pregnancy in 2021, she was in hospital several times for hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition causing extreme nausea. She added: "When I was around eight months pregnant, I was in terrible pain, so the John Radcliffe Hospital offered me a scan which highlighted a mass on my bowel. "During the procedure, the doctor put his hand on my shoulder and said he was sorry, so I knew it wasn't good news and that it was cancer. "My first thought was for my baby as I just wanted to get her here safely. "Then I was numb and went into autopilot as I tried to get through each day and each hurdle that we faced." Doctors opted to induce her on 21 December before tackling the tumour a month later when she had regained her strength. However, on 2 January she returned to hospital in severe pain, before her bowel suddenly perforated and she underwent life-saving surgery. She cared for her baby while recuperating on the ward, recalling: "I had to be fed through a central line in my neck which made holding and feeding Connie very difficult." In 2023, the mother of two lost her father Anthony Potter, who died just 17 days after he was also diagnosed with cancer. She said: "Before he passed away, we told him we were going to do Pretty Muddy (a Cancer Research UK event] and he responded with 'You can't do that!' "But we did it and we wore his picture on our T-shirts so we had him with us on the course. "My experience and his has taught me that we have to go and enjoy every day and make the most of everything. "Together, my family and I will think of him as we take part in the Pretty Muddy obstacle course and I know I will overcome all the hurdles, just as I did when I faced cancer." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. 'My cancer was found as I was about to give birth' Mum gives birth after cancer coma during pregnancy 'Cancer has robbed me of seeing my baby grow' Cancer Research UK
