A DOWNPATRICK woman, who was bitten by the running bug as she began her recovery from an advanced, rare and aggressive cancer, is encouraging locals to support two further fundraisers in aid of the charity which she is now championing.
Earlier this month, Sara McGarvey raised over £600 for the Cancer Fund for Children, and now she is hoping the community comes out and supports her once again when she holds a further event in her hometown, and also when she takes on next month’s Dublin Marathon.
Sara had only just celebrated her son’s second birthday, in June 2023, when doctors advised her that she had Stage 4 Round Cell Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
Once she learned cancer was growing behind her right eye, the then 34-year-old was told she required six months of inpatient chemotherapy, followed by complex surgery.
She then had to undergo an advanced type of radiotherapy, known as proton beam treatment, delivered daily over seven weeks at a hospital in England.
Having been aware of Cancer Fund for Children, Sara admits it was only when faced with her own health crisis that she fully realised how wide-ranging and far-reaching the charity’s work is.
As she, husband Andrew and little Michael came to terms with a new way of living, the family enjoyed much-needed breaks at Daisy Lodge, the charity’s respite centre between Newcastle and Bryansford.
The facility also provided the perfect setting for a wellness retreat for Sara and her mum, Mary McCartan.
Sara said that despite his young age, Michael quickly realised that something was wrong with his mummy, and that life was very different.
She had undergone complex surgery – known as a full orbital exenteration – this radical procedure removed the entire eyeball and all surrounding soft tissues in the eye socket, including muscles, fat, nerves, and part of her sinus. Among its many forms of support, the charity helped her find ways of explaining to Michael in a child-friendly manner what had happened.
Fast forward three years, this self-titled “cancer survivor” is living life to the full.
Readily admitting she has been given “a second opportunity at life,” Sara has wholeheartedly embraced this new chapter.
Recently, and through her pledge to give her all to support the charity which has been her rock, she became one of the Cancer Fund for Children’s ‘community champions’ and her voluntary role sees her covering the Killyleagh, Crossgar and Downpatrick areas.
She is determined to raise as much awareness, and money, as she can for the fund, and “its amazing work”.
With that in mind, and with just four weeks to go until she takes on her first 26.2-mile route in Dublin, Sara will host a coffee afternoon this Saturday (26 September) at The Kiln and Kettle,
at Market Street in Downpatrick.
It will take place between noon and 2pm, and in addition to much-welcome donations being made on the day, Sara
and her supporters will also hold a raffle.
Coming to terms with such a traumatic life experience would be the biggest of struggles, but Sara has truly embraced life in all its forms and, remarkably, has shed 11 stone since she started running.
She said taking on next month’s run, just like the local events, is all about raising funds for, and awareness of, the Cancer Fund for Children.
“I started running as part of my recovery journey in February 2025 and, so far, have raised around £1,500 for the charity through smaller runs, though this will be my biggest challenge yet,” she explained.
