My pride at daughter's bravery

Kirk Wilson, 40, will be running the Sandringham 10k after being inspired by his daughter running the Race for Life this year.

08 September 2009 06:00



A Norwich man is planning to run 10k to raise money for a cancer charity, after being inspired by his daughter's Race for Life efforts in memory of her mum.

Policeman Kirk Wilson will be donning his trainers for the run at Sandringham, despite recently having three cartilage operations on his right knee and one on his left.

The 40-year-old said he signed up for the Cancer Research UK run on the very same day he watched his 12-year-old daughter Ellen run the 5k Race for life at the Norfolk Showground in memory of her mum Sara Wells.

He said: “My ex-wife died in March 2008 from cancer leaving my daughter without a mummy when only aged 10. She has been amazing since then, very strong especially for her little brother.

“She doesn't like to talk about it at all which I gather is a common reaction from a child who has lost a parent.

“Earlier this year out of the blue she asked to run the Race for Life so we entered her in and along with five other family members she ran it.

“It was a very emotional day all round and I truly believe it captured her feelings too as she talked a bit about mummy after the run. “I was so proud of her running past me and then up to me at the finish line with her 'for mummy' written on her back and her excited face as she told me her finishing time.”

Although Mr Wilson and his ex-wife separated when Ellen was less than six months old, they remained friends and both remarried and had more children.

In 2003, Mrs Wells was diagnosed with a tumour on her spine and had treatments which appeared to get rid of it. She was then diagnosed with leukaemia in 2005 and again had severe treatment. Unfortunately the cancer on the spine returned and this time was very aggressive, spreading all over her body.

Mr Wilson, who for several years was the beat bobby for Thorpe, said: “Sara was an amazing woman who fought cancer so hard, Ellen never saw or heard her complain about it right up until the end.

“Ellen is an awesome daughter, she appears to have coped with losing her mummy very well. I'm sure she aches on the inside to have her here everyday.

“She is an inspiration and not only started high school but very quickly moved toward the top sets and had a brilliant report this summer when it could have been so easy to 'go off the rails' and blame losing mummy for an easier life.

“I feel privileged to have her as a daughter.

“She very rarely speaks about Sara so when she asked to do the Race for Life it was something that surprised us.

“The day was truly inspirational and I think the enormity of it hit home to her, and me, much more which is why when we got in I immediately signed up for Run 10k.”

Ellen, who goes to Thorpe St Andrew School, raised £500 from her run in May and Mr Wilson is hoping to equal this feat when he takes part in the 10k run around the Sandringham Estate at 11am on Sunday, September 27.

To sponsor Mr Wilson, log on to www.run10ksponsorme.org/kirk-and-steph.

To sign up to take part, log on to www.run10k.org.

Do you have an inspirational fundraising story for the Evening News? Contact reporter Kim Briscoe on 01603 772419 or email kim.briscoe@archant.co.uk

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