Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: Fundraising West Midlands officer taking on half-marathon for charity

5 September 2023

A West Midlands Police Federation member is running the New York Half Marathon next year in memory of her 19-month-old niece, who died earlier this year after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma.

The officer is part of a team from West Midlands Police, who will be tackling the 13-mile course around Central Park.

The team aims to raise awareness of neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that affects children, mostly under the age of five.

The runners are also raising money for Joining Against Cancer in Kids, or J-A-C-K.org, a charity founded in 2008 by Metropolitan Police officers, which provides research into neuroblastoma and offers advice and support to families with children with a diagnosis.

Beau was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma on 5 May when she was 16
months old and was treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital. She
passed away aged 19 months on 24 July.

One of those members, who has asked to remain anonymous, is doing it for her niece Beau.

The officer said: “I’d decided to take part in the half marathon before Beau passed away but now I’m doing it in her memory.”

Beau was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma on 5 May when she was 16 months old and was treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital. She passed away aged 19 months on 24 July.

“Her treatment was going well but unfortunately suffered complications having caught sepsis, and she was taken from us,” the officer said.

“She’s the bravest little girl, and she made such an impression on everyone who met her.

“It’s still very raw. It’s a difficult process and difficult supporting Beau’s sisters and brothers, and parents and grandparents.”

J-A-C-K.org was founded in 2008 by officers in the Metropolitan Police. The charity was inspired by Jack Brown, who was seven when he died from neuroblastoma after a three-year illness. His mum Yvonne and dad Richard were detectives in the Met.

For the past 18 years, police officers from the UK have been running the New York Half Marathon in Central Park to help raise money for the charity.

Police officer Jamie Murphy was pivotal in getting the team from West Midlands together ahead of the event.

He said: “I saw a tweet from a fellow cop from the Met Police, who advertised that he was running again for the charity that has been taking part in the New York Half for more than 15 years and was calling for cops to join him.

“So, I dropped him an email and here we are today.”

Fellow West Midlands Police Fed member Paige Gartlan is set to swap tutorials for training runs as she builds towards the race.

Student officer Paige is putting the finishing touches to her university work and the end of her studies.

Paige said: “I’m really excited about running the half marathon.

“I haven’t started my training yet as I’ve got to finish off a few things with my university work and then I’ll be getting on with it. As soon as it’s done I’ll be out running.”

Paige, who lives in Wolverhampton and is based in Birmingham, is looking for a running club that can help her with her training.

“I’m going to start off with the ‘Couch to 5K’ and then once I’ve completed that I’ll carry on running and building on it,” she said.

“I’m going to see if there are any running clubs because when you’re running with people it’s a little bit easier than just going out on your own.”

Paige added: “It’s raising money for a really good charity that helps and supports children and their families.”

Federation member Rich Evans said Jack’s story “pulled on his heartstrings” when he heard it.

He said: “Friends of ours had a niece who was diagnosed with a number of issues and passed away before she got to two.

“It wasn’t neuroblastoma but it’s still just awful when children pass away before their parents so any support we can give is a good thing in my mind.”

Next year’s event takes place on Saturday 18 May and a 15-strong team from West Midlands Police will be joining them.

They’ll be running in trainers and shorts but wearing their black wicking shirts with epaulettes and a custodial helmet.

They’ll be taking annual leave for the run and funding the trip themselves.

Rich, who is well on with his training, said: “Not only does it sound like an experience in itself, but also just to be able to do it for such a good cause as well, is a huge bonus. It’s great to be able to give something back.”

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