We are doing some fundraising for “The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity (CCUC).”  We are very thankful for this organisation which has had a huge impact upon our 4 year old daughter, Lena, and us as her parents. 

In December 2020, Lena was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour and underwent surgery at the “Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.” In September, 2022 we celebrated the end of 21 months of treatment….initial surgery, shunt surgery, initiation chemo, high dose chemo and stem cell transplant, radiotherapy and then maintenance chemotherapy for a year.  Lena has had 55 general anaesthetics, spent endless days and nights in hospital and has faced huge adversity with incredible courage.

“The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity (CCUC)” has been a very significant part of our journey with the money it raises contributing to the unit where Lena has received the majority of her care.   It has funded rooms in the children’s oncology ward at the Royal where we have spent large amounts of time and contributed to the MRI scanner which both diagnosed Lena’s brain tumour, directed best management and continues to provide ongoing surveillance scans.  They also contribute towards staffing of the unit  (who are a very special group of people) and invest in training and research.   Lena has benefited from all of this, receiving cutting edge, new therapies for which we will be forever grateful.  Given all of this, you can see why we want to do some fundraising for this charity and would love you, as folks who have journeyed with us over the past 2 years or know the story, to be part of this too.  

With that in mind we hope to run a couple of events.  One of these is the Lisburn half marathon, 10k or 3k fun run, on the evening of Wednesday 21st June.   You are probably reading this because someone you know is running in one of the events and has asked you to sponsor them.  

Through the work of the “CCUC” Lena has been the recipient of extraordinary, lifesaving care.  This is something we could never have imagined we would need for our daughter, but having become acutely aware of the work they do we are keen to support it so other children and young people can continue to access the phenomenal care we have received. 

Thank you for considering sponsoring one of the over 60 runners who are taking part and even if you’re not running, feel free to come along to Lisburn on 21st June and cheer us along!

Confirmed runners so far :

Al and Rachel Aicken

Kyle Alexander

Mark Beattie

Simon, Suzanne, Harry, Isaac and Poppy Bond

Roger and Laura Cooke

Jonny, Brooke and Leah Craig

Pete Crutchley

David, Andrea, Daniel and Erin Currie

Rosie and Alexa Donaldson

Bridget, Paul, Rory, Niamh and Esme Fulton

John Goodrich

Ian, Julie, Charlie, Lauryn and Lucie Harper

Gareth Irwin

Graeme Kennedy

Ricky Kirk

Fiona and Peter Kirkpatrick

Carrie and Aria Lindsay

Pete and Rose Lynas

Susie Martin

Tim, Vicky, Arthur, Olive and Monty Martin

Dave Mottram

John McClelland

Jason McFerran

David McKean

Jon McKee

Benny, Jayne and Martha McKeown

Jonny and Rebekah McKeown

Jenny McLaughlin

Dave Minion and family

Ruth Montgomery

Gordon Rea

Ricky Reaney

Mark Scott

Callum Spence

Andrew Topping

Gareth and Angela Walls

Simon, Yvonne, Zak and Zara Wells

Andrew White

Jonathan Young