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Marathon of Hope: Paula Radcliffe’s Daughter Runs First Marathon After Cancer Battle

BBG News

She broke the world record for a marathon 20 years ago, two decades after her father ran his first.

Now, Paula Radcliffe’s daughter, who has been battling cancer for five years, will be participating in her very first run.

The former world record holder and winner of seven major marathons retired ten years ago.

51-year-old Radcliffe has resumed marathon running and shares her journey through a podcast titled “Paula’s Marathon Run Club”, providing guidance to runners of all skill levels. This inspiring series is backed by Children with Cancer UK, the charity that Radcliffe’s daughter Isla is fundraising for and raising awareness about.

After making a full recovery, Radcliffe’s 18-year-old daughter, Isla, was later diagnosed with a rare type of ovarian cancer when she was only 13 years old.

As I pour over the latest issue of Radio Times, Emma Radcliffe shares a personal revelation that struck me hard – much like a Dumbledore’s Army raid on the Ministry of Magic! Her little one began experiencing persistent tummy troubles and unexplained bleeding, and it was then that the light-bulb moment dawned upon her: there was an issue that needed addressing.

‘That’s when we knew something wasn’t right, and we went to the paediatrician,’ she said.

Subsequently, it sped along at a rapid pace. On the very next day following her visit to the doctor on Tuesday, we underwent a scan, and exactly a week later, we found ourselves in the hospital initiating the initial round of chemotherapy treatment.

Experiencing a child undergo chemotherapy is one of the toughest ordeals a parent can face. You can offer emotional support and stand by them throughout this journey, but you cannot take their place and endure the treatment for them. It’s heart-wrenching to see your child in pain, yet we found solace in the belief that if it was painful, it was working to eradicate the cancer.

Radcliffe, having recently completed the Tokyo marathon from her list and preparing for the Boston marathon this coming Monday to complete the series, mentioned that she consulted her gynecologist about freezing her own eggs as a precautionary measure, should Isla become infertile in the future.

‘He just looked at me and said, “Look, she isn’t going to want your 47-year-old eggs”,’ she said.

When she started losing her hair, I suggested wearily that I’d shave my head and have it crafted into a wig for her. However, she firmly declined the offer.

In retrospect, I kept my actions private from most, understanding her wish to avoid questions about my decision-making process. There are experiences that one isn’t prepared for, be it personally experiencing them or guiding others through such situations.

‘She doesn’t know how it has affected her chances of becoming a parent.

Now, she tends to develop skin allergies when stressed, but it’s unclear if this is related to her current treatment.

Radcliffe said that it has changed their family in many ways, and in some for the best.

In my personal life, I’m blessed to be a partner to Gary Lough, a seasoned runner like myself, and we’re proud parents of our 14-year-old son Raphael and our daughter Isla, who is growing up just as fast.

Raphael, she says, is becoming a promising junior runner.

She mentioned, “For that period, there was an overwhelming sense of maternal guilt because I had to devote more attention to one child.

Raphael is remarkably understanding and compassionate, which seems unusual for many 14-year-old boys at the moment.

I’m crossing my fingers he won’t misplace it, as it holds great significance for him. He’s so fond of it that he’d let Isla style his hair when she was bald – a unique bond they share, with the condition being that he always brushes it before stepping out.

He invested significant time with her, often fretting over her concerns, which has deepened their connection.

Radcliffe plans to participate in the Boston Marathon on April 21st as her last marathon, thus completing all six major marathons. These include London, Berlin, New York, Chicago, and Tokyo, which she has already run – with her fastest time being 2 hours, 57 minutes, and 26 seconds in Tokyo earlier this year.

Although she won’t be running London this coming weekend, she will be commentating for the BBC.

Being there is incredibly moving,” she explained, as people would reach a certain point on the Mall and suddenly understand they had accomplished their goal.

‘But when it’s your little girl doing it, that’s going to be a bit more emotional.’

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2025-04-22 03:34

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