Race for Life reveals tales of courage

May 19 2008 by Dan Warburton and Jule Wilson, The Journal

THE winner of Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life yesterday crossed the finish line and collapsed in the arms of her mother who has spent 17 years battling cancer.

Gillian Mooney, 62, from Low Fell, Gateshead, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991 and since then it has spread to almost every part of her body.

Last week she completed her third bout of treatment in the last 13 months, which includes weekly chemotherapy sessions for 16-week periods.

And yesterday she saw her daughter, 26-year-old Jane, an engineer also from Low Fell, Gateshead, complete the 5km charity circuit around Saltwell Park, Gateshead, in little more than 19 minutes.

As she finished she embraced her mother, and told of her inspirational influence.

Jane said: "I wanted to run it fast and I wanted to win it for my Mam. She just keeps on going and going, and we just keep going and pushing along with her.

"She is such a strong lady and an incredible inspiration. This is a real family affair."

Gillian is the second generation of her family to suffer from cancer. In 1970, her mother, Kathleen Matterface died at the age of 56, having struggled with lung cancer for two-and-a-half years.

Gillian said: "They didn’t manage to save her for as long, but things have developed over the years.

"I’ve noticed a huge difference over the 17 years that I have been ill. When my mam had it they didn’t even have chemotherapy.

"This event is great because it’s helping to raise money for these new treatments, and to raise awareness."

Jane was among 3,000 women to flock to Saltwell Park and take part in the 5km, women-only event which aimed to raise £187,000 for Cancer Research UK.

It was Karen Hall, 41, from Dunston Road, Dunston, Gateshead, who sounded the buzzer on the contest earlier in the day.

The HR manager at the George Washington Hotel in Washington was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1987, and, having survived that, was told she had breast cancer in 2003.

But after making a full recovery, she yesterday raced alongside her sister Joanne Allman-Taylor, 39, and others raisiing money for the charity.

She said: "It’s brilliant to see all these people here. One of the aims is to show that people can survive cancer.

"My mam has had breast cancer, so she knew what I was going through, and my sister was my bone marrow donor when I had leukaemia."

Also taking part were police officers Debs Alderson, 35, from Sunderland, and Andi Atkinson, 31, from Whickham, Gateshead. The pair donned bushy wigs and moustaches for the race.

Mrs Alderson said: "We just wanted to be a bit different and have a bit of fun. It kept us going because we were laughing at ourselves all the way around."

Page 2: Thrills aplenty as fundraisers take to the air