A determined mum who lost two family members to cancer within eight months is taking on a double marathon challenge in their memory to raise money for a top Welsh charity.<\/p>\n
Emma McCracken, will complete both the New York and Berlin marathons \u2013 just six weeks apart \u2013 is running in memory of her mother and father-in-law, Phillip and Adele McCracken, from Gwersyllt, in Wrexham, who recently lost their cancer battles within eight months of each other.<\/p>\n
The 42-year-old from Nesscliffe, in Shropshire, who balances a tough training regime with providing care for her 13-year-old son who has Down\u2019s Syndrome, is aiming raise vital funds for Wales\u2019 leading cancer charity Tenovus later this year.<\/p>\n
Her efforts have now been boosted by Denbigh-based Lock Stock Self Storage \u2013 the UK\u2019s largest containerised storage company \u2013 which is proudly sponsoring her for the Berlin Marathon on September 24th to help her reach her \u00a3800 target.<\/p>\n
The firm, which has storage park across North Wales including in Wrexham and Flintshire, is now calling for other local businesses to get onboard and donate in aid of the charity, which supports cancer patients and their families, funds research and works to raise awareness on how to prevent cancer.<\/p>\n
Emma, who lives with her husband Peter, 41, and three children, a son and two daughters aged six and two, said her in-laws were both in their mid-seventies when they were diagnosed with cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father-in-law was struck down first with a brain tumor and was receiving treatment to manage the condition over 18 months. My mother-in-law cared for him until he passed away.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was just beginning to get her life back on track before being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November 2022. She died in January this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an awful time. What made it even worse was all through Covid, we couldn\u2019t see them in case we passed something on to my father-in-law who was receiving treatment. We missed out on so much. It was really hard.<\/p>\n
\u201cTenovus is such a worthwhile cause. The amount of support and advice they provide is amazing, they have dedicated chat lines and other services to make it easier for a person living through a really difficult time.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing through it twice myself with my husband\u2019s mum and dad, you realise how much this support is needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a difficult enough time as it is for anyone going through cancer but to worry about the financial side of things as well can make life even more challenging.\u201d<\/p>\n
Until last autumn, Emma, who helps out as a dinnertime supervisor at a local primary school, had only run 5k or 10k.<\/p>\n
She was inspired by some running friends who were in training for the London Marathon and decided to give it a go, successfully applying for a place on behalf of Severn Hospice in Shropshire where her aunt had previously received care.\u00a0 Her efforts raised \u00a33,200 for the charity against a target of \u00a32,000.<\/p>\n
\u201cI completed the marathon four weeks ago and to my surprise I survived it! I found out about about Tenovus and how it helped Welsh people through their cancer struggles and it touched a nerve, with my mother and father-in-law both being from Wrexham,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cTenovus had a place in the Berlin Marathon and they said if I wanted to support them I could take part.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had already secured a place in the New York marathon through a sports tour operator but decided to carry on fundraising for Tenovus for that event too \u2013 the more I can do to raise awareness and funds, the better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma said donations from businesses like Lock Stock had been a lifeline during the current economic climate where many families were counting the pennies and had little spare income to donate.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest, when I started training, the fundraising side of it was daunting, especially in the current financial climate. You really have to put yourself out there, but it takes its toll. I\u2019m lucky my husband and children are so supportive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see Lock Stock all over the place and approached them to see if they\u2019d help me and they were really keen to get involved which was great. It means a lot to me to get companies onboard to help with the sponsorship.<\/p>\n
\u201cLock Stock came back to me really quickly and paid into my Enthuse fundraising account. I really appreciate them raising awareness about what I\u2019m doing to get help from other businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lock Stock Sales Consultant Lisa James said: \u201cWe have a real commitment to supporting charities and good causes in the areas where we operate and we were really touched by Emma\u2019s efforts in memory of her in-laws.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we have storage parks in Wrexham and in Shropshire we were delighted to support her \u2013 running marathons in New York and Berlin will be fantastic experiences and in aid of a really good cause.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma runs the New York Marathon on November 5 and is busy training for both gruelling races with three runs every week and yoga and strength training in between.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe dedication side of it is the hardest part,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have three children and my 13-year-old son is disabled. He has Down\u2019s Syndrome. I also have two daughters aged six and two. One of the reasons I\u2019m doing this is to make them proud of me.<\/p>\n
\u201cLondon was very tough. There were a few points along the way where I thought I can\u2019t do this but you have to remember why you\u2019re doing it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just kept thinking that I was fortunate to be able to run at all, and that some people receiving hospice care will never have that opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what it\u2019s all about, just putting one foot in front of the other and keeping going.<\/p>\n
\u201cBerlin is a flat course and known to be a \u2018quick\u2019 course whereas New York is hilly. To be doing two six weeks apart between them will be tough.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother-in-law would\u2019ve been really proud. She was a nurse by trade, and I always remember her saying she would\u2019ve loved to run the London Marathon. This would have meant a lot to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I can complete them both it will be a massive achievement. It means I\u2019m doing as much as I can for another amazing charity.\u201d<\/p>\n
To support Emma\u2019s fundraising challenges visit: https:\/\/tenovuscancercare.enthuse.com\/pf\/emma-mccracken\/post\/3351075<\/a><\/p>\n Lock Stock, founded in Denbigh in 1999, is the UK\u2019s largest containerised storage company with almost 4,500 units providing over four million cubic feet of space at 27 storage parks across North and Mid Wales and the border counties.<\/p>\n Their existing sites stretch from Holyhead and along the North Wales coast at Porthmadog, Caernarfon, Bangor, Llandudno, Abergele and Rhyl, on the Dee at Flint, Saltney and Deeside and inland at Denbigh, Mold, Buckley, Wrexham and Newtown in Powys, and at Oswestry and Shrewsbury in Shropshire.<\/p>\n Lock Stock also specialise in the off-site hire of containers, delivered to your location by their specialist lorry and hired on a month by month basis. The sizes range from 10-feet long up through 20-footers to 40-foot units, all eight feet high and eight feet wide, from 640 to 2,560 in cubic feet in volume.<\/p>\n For information about Lock Stock Self Storage including off-site container hire contact them on 01745 817178 or go to\u00a0https:\/\/lockstock.biz\/<\/a><\/p>\n