A NI mum has thanked all those who supported her family during her daughter's cancer battle.
Claire Donnelly's daughter Ellen Treanor, seven, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in January 2018 when she was just 2-years-old. She finished treatment in May 2019 and a trial in New York in 2020.
The Newry family are continuing to give back as a way of showing their appreciation for the support they received during such a tough time.
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Two months before the Co Down girl's third birthday, she received her diagnosis.
Mum Claire told Be: "Ellen's symptoms were very vague... When she was two and a half we were just potty training her and she was grand to start with and soon after she got quite constipated.
"I took her to the doctors but it was kind of said, whenever potty training, some kids just do [become constipated]. There would have been a couple of kidney infections but they said that would go in hand with constipation.
"It was all very innocent symptoms but eventually she had an ultrasound scan to check her kidneys after a couple of infections and it turned out then that she had a tumour in her tummy."
The mum-of-two said the family spent a lot of time during treatment at the Children’s Cancer Unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
The family are continuing to fundraise for The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity. Claire told Be the difference it made and said: "Ellen's treatment lasted about a year and a half.
"The charity were helpful on the ward straight away. There are play specialists that they fund, they help the children, just give them a bit of fun and help them through difficult parts of the treatment like having bloods done, lying for scans and all that kind of thing.
"In December 2018 we were in the ward right up until Christmas. They have Santa come in and bring presents. Small things which really brighten the children's day.
"We wouldn't have been able to take Ellen to see Santa because the risk of infection, she wouldn't have been able to get out and about much, so that was lovely.
"We went to the panto, even things like the cinema and they'd make sure the cinema was cleaned before all the kids went in, which gave you peace of mind when you were really trying to keep them away from germs."
After finishing her treatment in Northern Ireland, Ellen undertook a vaccine trial in the US.
"She completed the trial in America. We raised a massive amount of money for it which was fantastic. That was with Solving Kids' Cancer, a UK charity.
"She completed the trial in New York. She finished it in July 2020. It was seven vaccinations over the period of a year. We went back and forth five times to New York for that.
"The hope of that is to reduce the chance of the cancer returning," Claire explained.
The Children's Cancer Unit Charity is asking runners to help them raise vital funds for families living with childhood cancer in Northern Ireland by taking part in a one mile downhill race at the historical site.
The CCUC Stormont Mile, in association with Hagan Homes, allows participants to run or walk the iconic Prince of Wales Avenue in the shadow of Parliament Buildings on Saturday 1 October.
Newry woman Claire added: "Even if you can do something small like this, at least you feel like you are giving back because people were good to us. Friends, family and complete strangers as well. So many people gave time and money to help us.
"They were fantastic. Thank you to everybody. We would have been lost without [the support]."
Speaking ahead of the event this weekend, Jacqueline Wilkinson from the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity said: “We are thrilled to be launching the 2022 CCUC Stormont Mile, and bringing runners and walkers of all ages and abilities back to the Stormont Estate to raise funds for the Children’s Cancer Unit. Charities like ours rely on the generous contributions of organisations and the public to deliver our services and support children and families, so the funds raised from this event will go directly to helping children with cancer."
The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity exists to support the work of the medical team and staff at the Children’s Haematology and Oncology Unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, as well as families who are impacted across Northern Ireland.
For more information and to register for the event, visit www.childrenscancerunit.com/stormontmile.
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