Inverness widow urging people to continue supporting fight against cancer during Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic
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A young woman will help launch Cancer Research UK’s new campaign encouraging supporters across the nation to set themselves a Race for Life at Home challenge.
Shannon Murphy (23) and her three-year-old daughter Sophia are backing the event.
The Inverness Race for Life 5k and 10k events, which were due to take place on May 24 at Bught Park, are postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
But as the nation continues on lockdown, undeterred women and men are already vowing to carry on and complete a Race for Life challenge at home, in their garden or their nearest green space.
Shannon’s husband Michael Murphy was just 25 when he died in September 2018. The former chef was diagnosed with leukaemia two months after his wedding day. Shannon, who also turned 20 on her wedding day, was six months pregnant with their first child Sophia.
While receiving treatment at Raigmore Hospital, Michael took part in filming with Channel 4 for the campaign Stand Up To Cancer, sharing his determination to be the best dad possible. The family’s story was watched by millions just weeks after his death.
Now Shannon – who the was VIP starter at last year’s Cancer Research UK Race for Life in Inverness – has pledged to do 10 star jumps in her back garden every day during lockdown.
“Life feels scary right now but at the end of the storm is a rainbow and I think that’s what we’ll finally find after lockdown,” she said.
“I’ve been through what most people go through in a lifetime but our family are slowly learning to smile again. It’s sad we can’t take part in the Race for Life in Inverness this year but I’m determined to join the fight against cancer by doing Race for Life at Home.
“It will give us something positive to do and help people who are going through cancer. I know research is of fundamental importance to finding better treatments for cancer in the future so it’s vital this work continues.”
Race for Life Inverness participants raised £67,740 last year to support vital research to develop gentler and more effective treatments for cancer.
Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK’s spokeswoman for Scotland, said people want to help. “They feel that the fight against cancer shouldn’t stop for anything – even coronavirus.”
For more, visit www.raceforlife.org
