9:50am Friday 6th August 2010
A RISLEY Prison worker who hates running will complete a famous marathon to support cancer sufferers in her family.
Emma Gisbourne, a careers advisor based at HMP Risley, signed up for the Marie Curie Cancer Care New York Marathon team after learning that her mum Larraine Woodcock, aged 55, had breast cancer in February.
The 30-year-old whose dad Leonard, aged 68, has myeloma cancer said she felt helpless as both her parents were hit by the disease.
“I was really upset when mum told me she had to go for an appointment after a lump was found when she went for a mammogram.
“I was devastated because her mum died of breast cancer when she was 11 or 12. So, when I was 12 I would think ‘I hope my mum doesn’t die this year’.
“I almost expected it to be bad news when she called.
“When mum came out of the appointment I could see tears in her eyes and I started crying. My mum, stepdad Brian and I just stood huddling.”
After seeing her mum, a Marks and Spencer sales advisor in Bury, experience tiredness and sickness from the chemotherapy, Emma decided that she would show her support by doing something that makes her feel tired and sick too running.
“My mum knows how much I hate running. I enjoy sport but I am not a runner. I moan every step of the way. I really want to show how much I want to help them through it,” she said.
Emma, from Padgate, who also works at Manchester’s Chill Factore, has been training four days a week to gear up for the 26-mile challenge on November 7.
She will travel to the Big Apple alone for five days and will share her room with another runner for the charity, who she does not know.
Her aim is to finish the race before the bus arrives to pick up stragglers after six hours and 40 minutes.
She then plans to relax and see as much of the city as possible before flying home.
She added: “Although nobody in my family has used Marie Curie there could be a day when they need to. It gives people the chance to be nursed in their home environment rather than at a hospital or hospice.”
Emma’s brother Andrew, aged 46, also has cancer and her aunt Bernadette Gisbourne is in remission from breast cancer.
To help Emma reach her target of £2,500 for the charity visit justgiving.com/emmagiz.
l Any businesses which are willing to donate prizes for a Marie Curie quiz night, which Emma is holding at Monks’ Sports Club in Woolston on September 3, should call Guardian reporter Miranda Newey on 434111.
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