A Derry man is determined to continue his wife's legacy after she passed away last year from a Diffuse Astrocytoma brain tumour.
Mum-of-two and Fountain Primary School teacher Nicola was just 35 years old when she passed away.
Nicola's husband Alan spoke of the importance of more research on this type of cancer, which is the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40.
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Alan said: " Nicola and I were together for 17 years, we were married in 2011 so we were 10 years married in the year that Nicola passed away. She was the centre of everything for our family so it was a massive shock when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2018.
"She was absolutely stunning and stood out in a room but was also probably the quietest person in the room. She was as down to earth a person as you would ever meet. She was an amazing mum. That was the most important thing to her was her kids and family."
"The type of cancer Nicola had is very difficult to treat and we had no idea of the scale of it even after Nicola was diagnosed. Through our own research we found out how little treatment there is for that kind of cancer."
For Alan and the rest of Nicola's family, they hope that continued fundraising can mean that families facing a similar diagnosis in the future will have the opportunity of a brighter road ahead.
He said: "There is very little money given from the government into research of brain tumours, it is really only about 1%. I was shocked to find that the treatments have not progressed in 20 years. In most of those higher-grade tumours you would be lucky to have 5 years. It is very difficult to treat and there is nowhere enough research being done.
"Brain Tumour Research have their own independent research facilities, they are funding themselves and researching with their own scientists to get breakthroughs. We hope that through time there will be better treatments and more of an understanding of these kinds of brain tumours."
After Nicola passed away in October 2018, Alan's sister-in-law decided to take on a half marathon to fundraise for brain tumour research, and Alan joined her. Their sights are now set on the Waterside Half Marathon on September 4.
Alan said: "It snowballed from there. We ended up entering every half marathon in the country and have spent the last year travelling here, there and everywhere running them all and now we are coming home for the Waterside Half Marathon.
"We have raised around £24,500 and have set up a just giving page which is just phenomenal. Before Christmas we wanted to fundraise for Foyle Hospice because that is where Nicola spent the last week and the care they gave her was second to none. We wanted to help them out and raised about £12,000."
Alan discussed how the high level of support Nicola's family has received through their fundraising has helped them get through an incredibly difficult year.
He said: "It has been a massive help for me to have that support, especially from close family who have been unreal but from complete strangers as well. I’ve received letters from people who have gone through the same thing and it gives you some comfort for the road ahead.
"I wish Nicola could have seen some of the fundraising efforts. It was something she wanted to do herself but we never got around to it so we are continuing on her wish.
"I am excited for the Waterside Half Marathon. There are about 20 of us running as Team Nicola so it should be good fun and we’ll know more people at the finish line as well."
Donations to Team Nicola's Just Giving page can be made here.
Team Nicola will be joined by around 2,000 runners at the start line for the 39th staging of the event which is hosted by Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Runners will wind their way from the Ebrington site start, along the banks of the Foyle, crossing both the Foyle Bridge and the Peace Bridge en route to the finish on the St Columbs Park track.
A limited number of places remain for the Waterside Half Marathon, registration details, race instructions and traffic and travel for the event can be accessed at www.derrystrabane.com/whm.
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