‘Girls just want to have fun, and run’ as iconic Women’s 10K at the Titanic Slipways nears race day

Back by popular demand, the countdown is officially on when the Titanic Slipways will be a girls only zone, as women travel from all over the country to take part in the Moy Park Belfast City Women’s 10K, an event specifically designed for women to run, walk, or jog in a strong female community all while taking in the sights of some of the city’s best attractions. With less than five weeks to go, it is only fitting that the event has once again selected Cancer Focus NI as their charity partner with participants helping to raise over £52,000 since 2023, providing over 900 hours of cancer support across the charity’s range of female support services, including counselling, family support, bra and swimwear fitting, and support groups. The popular event is a testament for what can be achieved when women run and fundraise together.

Every month, 536 women in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with cancer and the local cancer charity’s services are life-changing for local ladies, and families, who are navigating one of the most difficult times in their lives.

Someone who knows this all too well is Laura. The Belfast mum-of-two received a breast cancer diagnosis in 2022 and leaned on Cancer Focus NI countless times during her journey.

Reflecting on this time, Laura said: “It’s hard to believe that it all started with a hug from my 5-year-old son. It was just like any other day when he bounced into my lap and gave me his usual tight squeeze, but this time, something didn’t feel quite right. I thought my bra was getting tight and put it down to gaining a bit of weight, but that night when I was getting ready for bed, I felt a lump in my right breast.”

Laura visited her GP the next morning who urgently referred her to Ulster Hospital, she arrived at 8.45am and by the end of the day, had been told she had breast cancer. She noted: “It felt like a dream, all I could think of was my two boys, and how my family would cope with the news.”

In April 2022, the night before surgery to remove the lump, Laura felt another lump in her breast that hadn’t been detected by the mammograms. By Christmas 2022, she had endured three surgeries, six rounds of chemotherapy and ten sessions of radiotherapy. It was during chemotherapy that Laura’s mental health particularly started to suffer, and she turned to Cancer Focus NI for support.

She said: “That’s when the real healing began. I was meeting my wonderful counsellor Barbara every two to three weeks and she supported me until I finished my treatment, I can’t begin to explain the difference she made in my life at that time. I desperately needed to talk to someone who wasn’t directly affected by my cancer. Someone who wasn’t trying to comfort me or make me feel better. Barbara just let me, be me.”

She continued: “I also got fitted for a new bra. After the surgeries my breast was a full size smaller, and I was feeling really uncomfortable. Emma, the bra fitting specialist at Cancer Focus NI, made the whole process easy and enjoyable. Going into try on bras with no judgement or shock and with Emma’s expertise was so important.”

Laura went back to work in March 2023, but really started to struggle to life after cancer. It was then she realised the charity was still there to support her, and Laura’s perspective and enjoyment of life totally changed for the better.

She noted: “It was amazing. A group of ten women, all with different cancers and experiences, exploring their journey from their diagnosis to life after cancer. The group was a safe space to discuss fears, worries and concerns. It was the first time I realised I wasn’t alone, and they inspired me to keep going.”

Looking excitedly towards the future, Laura makes the most of every moment and doesn’t stress the small stuff anymore. She concluded: “Physically I am not where I was before cancer, but I am in a positive place, and I am enjoying life and making the most out of every moment and opportunity. Thank you to all the women who are seizing their opportunity at the Moy Park Belfast City Women’s 10K for saying ‘yes’ and running for every woman impacted by cancer. It means the world.”

Maeve Colgan, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Cancer Focus NI, welcomes the third year of partnership with Moy Park Belfast City Women’s 10K, she said: “We are totally delighted to be selected as charity partner for the third year and have been blown away by the support from local women from all over the country who choose to run, jog, or walk for our charity. Laura’s inspiring story really drives home the importance of the specialist female support services that we offer as a charity. Without fundraising, we would simply not be able to provide services for Laura and the thousands of women who use our services each year. We can’t wait until race day to cheer on the women, ladies, and girls who just want to have fun and run in aid of Cancer Focus NI.”

Claire O’Neill, Chief Executive of Belfast City Marathon, added: “We are thrilled to be staging the Women’s 10K for the third consecutive year in the iconic Titanic Quarter! From the event’s inaugural year in 2023, we’ve been overwhelmed with the incredible response — with over 3,000 women expected to participate in a few weeks. The continued support and enthusiasm from participants has been truly inspiring. Whether you’re walking or running, we encourage everyone to enjoy the day, support one another, and most importantly — have fun. We can’t wait to see you all on Sunday, 22nd June for what promises to be another unforgettable day.”

The Moy Park Women’s 10K is now sold out, for those still interested in supporting Cancer Focus NI and taking part in a fun event at the Titanic Slipways, the charity’s Pink Run tickets are now on sale at here.

Around 6432 women in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with cancer every year. To learn more about the signs and symptoms of cancer, visit our website www.cancerfocusni.org.

For cancer concerns, call the free Cancer Focus NI Nurse Line on 0800 783 3339 (Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9am to 1pm), email nurseline@cancerfocusni.org, or visit www.cancerfocusni.org/support to learn about available support services.