Mum-of-five’s London Marathon run for niece with brain tumour

A MUM-OF-FIVE from Nelson has raised £3,000 for a cancer charity after running the London Marathon as a tribute to her niece who is suffering from a brain tumour.

Mrs Rachel Bassano (44), who lives in the Southfield area of the town, completed the first 21 miles in three hours 45 minutes but a calf injury meant she was forced to walk the remaining five miles.

And although slightly disappointed she said taking part in the marathon was an experience she would never forget.

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“You just keep going tingly, everybody is shouting and cheering you on. It was fantastic, “ she said.

Mrs Bassano ran alongside her sister Mrs Judy Legg, whose eight-year-old daughter Olivia is battling a tumour.

Together the sisters have raised £6,000 for the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust and money is still coming in.

They were helped by pupils from St Joseph’s Park Hill School, Burnley, including Mrs Bassano’s daughter Sophie (6), who held a sponsored fun run for the same cause.

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Children from all years completed laps of the school playing field. Sophie managed to run 3km while another pupil at the school, William Couch (7), ran 6km.

Olivia and her mum live in Amsterdam but frequently travel to the UK, where she has medical treatment, and the little girl has spent time at St Joseph’s where she has captured the hearts of her peers.

She even returned to the school for the fun run where she cheered on pupils from the sidelines.

Mrs Bassano added: “I want to say a massive thank you to staff, parents and children at Park Hill, they have been unbelievable. And I want to thank all the businesses that have sponsored us, all my family and friends. People have been so generous, it really humbles you.”

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