🌟Meet our amazing County Champion: Lauren Nelson from Maynooth! Lauren will be representing Kildare at this year's Vhi Women's Mini Marathon! 🌟

Lauren's journey is one of resilience and love in the face of adversity. She shares, "This will be my first mini marathon that I am running in order to fundraise for Sarcoma Cancer Ireland." Her motivation stems from her husband Darragh's battle with stage 4 Sarcoma. Despite the challenges they've faced, Lauren's spirits remain high.

Reflecting on the trials they've encountered, Lauren bravely shares, "Facing into this battle will be a 'marathon' in itself and one we will keep running for as long as it takes."

Darragh's diagnosis came just months after their wedding, with Lauren recalling, "Our daughter was just 18months old at the time and we had just found out I was pregnant again, but the stress of diagnosis unfortunately caused me to lose the pregnancy." The couple suffered further blows with Darragh undergoing limb salvaging surgery, as well as a further spreading of the cancer. Amidst the uncertainty, and prior to Darragh starting radiation treatment, they found hope as they discovered they were expecting again, and welcomed a beautiful baby girl in November.

Lauren's decision to run the marathon is a testament to her gratitude and determination. "I am running the marathon in honour of my husband and our girls and to say thank you to the charity that were my lifeline this past year.

As Lauren prepares for the event on June 2, she carries with her the love for her family and the support of her community. Let's join to cheer her on as she represents Maynooth and raises awareness for Sarcoma Cancer Ireland.

We're proud to have you on our team, Lauren! 💖

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