The family and friends of 10-year-old Poppy Ogle who died following a battle with cancer are to run the Belfast marathon in her memory.
Poppy passed away in May of last year from a rare form of cancer with her bravery during her cancer treatment touching the hearts of people across East Belfast, with the young girl dedicating time to help others right up until her final days.
Her family have said they are heartbroken that Poppy is no longer here with them, but glad that she continues to inspire them and push them to do things they would have never done before.
Read more: East Belfast community heartbroken as tributes paid to 'brave warrior' Poppy Ogle
At this year's Belfast Marathon, three relay teams made up of family and friends will be running in memory of Poppy, while with her aunty Carina Loughran and family friend Cathy McCarten take part in the full one.
Their aim is to increase awareness about sarcoma cancers and raise funds for local sarcoma charity The Boom Foundation, that provided the Ogle's with much needed support during Poppy's treatment.
Poppy's father, Mark Ogle, will be joining one of the relay teams for the marathon on April 30, and says that preparing for it has given him a focus after such a hard year.
He said: "Poppy always had a way of getting me to do things that I never imagined that I would ever do. If you told me a few years ago I would be running a leg of the marathon I would have laughed at you, and even though she is sadly no longer with us, Poppy is still pushing me and inspiring me to do things.
"This past year has been very hard on us all and it is still difficult to come to terms with Poppy no longer being with us, but we are determined to keep her memory alive and getting ready for the marathon has given us a new focus.
"Poppy's aunty Carina was the driving force behind getting us to do it and we will have three teams of family and friends taking part as we aim to spread awareness about sarcoma cancers and their impact, while also raising money for a brilliant charity that helped us so much during Poppy's treatment, The Boom Foundation.
"The Boom Foundation supports families across Northern Ireland who have been impacted by sarcoma cancers, while also donating money to its research. Over the past couple of years our eyes have been opened to just how devastating a disease it really is and if we can help even one family from going through what we have, we would be very grateful."
Cathy McCarten, a close family friend of the Ogles, said that Poppy had inspired everyone taking part in the marathon and hoped that she would make her proud.
She said: "Last year a few of us took part in the relay and Sharon brought Poppy down to meet us afterwards and she was amazed with what we did, so we felt that this year it was important to push ourselves a bit harder and try and do even more.
"When you think of everything that she had been through during her treatment and how she did it all with a smile on her face, what we are doing is nothing compared to that and when I find myself struggling during the training I think of her and why I am doing this and it gives me a real boost to keep going.
"Poppy was such a special girl who meant so much to everyone who knew her and I just hope she will be proud looking down on us and seeing how she has inspired us all."
The Boom Foundation, is the only charity in Northern Ireland that is dedicated to providing support for patients of sarcoma cancers and was founded in 2013 by Leona Rankin after she lost her fiance to a rare form of soft tissue and bone cancer six weeks before their wedding day.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Leona said: "The Ogles are a lovely family and I can't imagine what they are going through following the loss of their daughter Poppy.
"We really appreciate all of the support they have shown us and wish them the best as they take part in the Belfast Marathon later this month.
"I started the Boom Foundation 10 years ago following the death of my fiance Philip a few weeks before our wedding day and its aim is to support all sarcoma patients in Northern Ireland with anything that they need, such as weekends away for respite, transport and accomodation costs or even an iPad to help people during their treatment.
"It is run entirely by volunteers so we are able to ensure that all of the money donated is able to go directly where it is supposed to with us splitting donations between Sarcoma UK, our partners in England, for research and patients and their families."
If you would like to donate to the Ogle family and The Boom Foundation please follow this link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Carina-Loughran1
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