Zara running 600k for Cancer Centre

Zara Dalton is running ten kilometres every day over the next 60 days and aims to complete the distance between Malin Head and Mizen Head.

Zara’s mum Esther was diagnosed with neck and throat cancer in January and she has been receiving treatment at the cancer centre during the height of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

“She started having symptoms before Christmas. It started first of all with a lump in her throat and she just put it down to having a cold or something. Then it started to grow on her neck. She got tests down and after Christmas we were told it was cancer.

“The news just knocked us all for six and the whole family has been affected by it,” Zara said.

Sadly, another member of their extended family was also diagnosed with cancer the same week and they are currently undergoing treatment in Belfast.

“Mammy has finished her chemotherapy and has two and a half weeks left of radiation. She goes over to the cancer centre every day, Monday to Friday, for an hour to get this. Once that is over she will get another scan to see how things are.”

The global pandemic has made the situation extremely difficult for the Dalton family.

“Mammy has had to shield and we can’t go near her. Usually when you go through cancer everyone rallies round, to help out with all the day to day things like cooking or cleaning the house if she doesn’t feel up to it. We haven’t been able to do that.

“We haven’t even been able to hug her or be there to support her while she is going through this.”

Zara said that thankfully the staff of the cancer centre have been there for her mother when the rest of the family are unable to be.

“Mammy can’t praise the staff enough because they are supporting her the way we would be every single day she sees them. They are always saying the right things to her and helping her through it.”

The mum of two decided she wanted to do something to thank the cancer centre for all they have done for her mum.

Zara started running two years ago and has completed a half marathon in the past.

After seeing other people doing fundraising challenges cycling the distance from Malin Head to Mizen Head, the Shantallow woman decided she would run it.

“I can’t go to the gym or anything at the minute so I go for a run to get out of the house. I decided to run 10k a day because it takes just over an hour and I would sit in front of the TV and watch something for that long.”

Zara, who was supposed to be going on her hen do next week and getting married next month, said that her daily run is keeping her occupied.

“It’s not the end of the world and we have managed to get everything reorganised for later this year. Running helps me focus and gives me something to do.”

She initially set a fundraising target of £100, given the hard times everyone is facing at the moment.

However, within 72 hours she had raised almost £600.

Zara said she can’t believe how much she has raised , adding that ‘no matter what is happening the people of Derry are always so generous’.

To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/zara-dalton