Tragic death of grandparents prompts Victoria to raise funds for cancer

The Scarva girl is now a Co Armagh Cancer Research UK Campaigns Ambassador and is set to take part in the Race for Life at home.

Victoria will take part in a new virtual weekend this Spring in their memory.

Her grandmother Isabel Turner from Lurgan sadly died in 2014 after suffering pancreatic cancer and her grandfather Robert Turner died just three years later after suffering from prostate cancer.

Now Victoria plans on raising funds for Cancer Research UK by completing a 5K run near her home on Saturday, April 24.

She will join thousands of people from across the UK who have all vowed to take part in their own Race for Life at Home challenge that weekend either alone or in small, socially distanced groups - but all on the same day- to help people with cancer.

The loss of both grandparents was a huge loss to Victoria and she felt she wanted to do something to help.

“After losing my nanny to pancreatic cancer in 2014 and my granda to prostate cancer in 2017 I was inspired to volunteer with Cancer Research as a Cancer Campaigns Ambassador,” she said.

“In my role, I campaign to keep cancer on the political agenda and advocate the work of Cancer Research UK at Westminster and Stormont. I also fundraise for the charity to enable new research in cancer services to help others losing the people they love too soon, like I and my family did.

“While many of us may feel our lives have been put on hold, cancer hasn’t stopped because of COVID-19, and people affected by cancer need our support now more than ever.

“Whether you’re joining the Race for Life in memory of a loved one, because you’re a survivor, or just because you want to beat cancer, it’s down to people like you that Cancer Research UK can keep developing new treatments and funding new research to see more people surviving cancer here.”

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, which has been in partnership with Tesco for 20 years, is an inspiring series of 3K, 5K, 10K, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events, which raise millions of pounds every year.

Every hour someone in Northern Ireland is diagnosed with cancer and one in two people in the UK born after 1960 will get cancer in their lifetime.

But the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.

Jean Walsh, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for Northern Ireland, said: “The truth is, COVID-19 has slowed us down. But we will never stop and we are absolutely determined to continue to create better cancer treatments for tomorrow.  

“Even though we have to Race for Life differently this Spring, nothing is going to stop us running, walking or jogging to raise money to help beat cancer. We’d urge as many people as possible to join us this April and Race for Life at Home.”

People can visit raceforlife.org to enter Race for Life at Home for £5 then receive a Race pack which includes a medal. 

Cancer Research UK is predicting a staggering £300m drop in income caused by COVID-19 over the next three years which could put future medical breakthroughs at risk. All 400 mass-participation Race for Life events across the UK were cancelled last year. And events that were scheduled for this spring and early summer have also now been postponed. This includes the Race for Life 5K, which had been due to take place at Stormont in May.

A live broadcast on the Cancer Research UK Race for Life Facebook and Race for Life Instagram pages on Saturday, April 24, will include an energiser from a fitness expert as well as inspirational messages of support from people who have been through cancer.

Participants are invited to run, walk or jog 5K. Organisers are also inviting participants to share photos and videos on social media using the hashtag #RaceatHome To enter visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.

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