Community / ‘Incredible’ nurse runs 70km to raise vital cancer charity funds in aid of 12-year old Etta
A SHETLAND nurse has run 70km to raise funds for a child in her care who is undergoing 70 weeks of chemotherapy.
Jan Howard took on the brutal William Wallace ultra-marathon in aid of 12-year old Etta Hannah, a remarkably brave young girl dealing with weekly cancer treatment.
Etta is currently being treated for a pilocytic astrocytoma – a slow-growing brain tumour which usually affects children and young adults – having first been diagnosed in 2018.
Her nurse described her as an “incredibly brave and strong young lady”, who deals daily with the reality of living with a critical illness and its treatments.
That inspired Jan – already an experienced runner – to go the extra mile to raise money for two charities close to Etta’s heart.
She has already raised triple her initial £500 goal to be split between Make a Wish UK and the local branch of MacMillan Cancer Support – but is encouraging folk to keep donating.
MacMillan have been championed for working with NHS Shetland to ensure most of Etta’s 70 weeks of treatment could be done in Shetland – preventing gruelling trips to Aberdeen every seven days.
She has become the first young person in Shetland to have chemotherapy here in the isles without having to travel to Aberdeen every week.
And Make A Wish UK helped Etta live a dream earlier in her life by granting her wish to see girl-group Little Mix.
When Etta was told of Jan’s decision to run 70km – or just over 43 miles – in her honour, Etta’s mother Jennifer Murray said the 12-year old simply said: “She’s crazy!”
Etta was given the difficult news last year that she would have to go back on chemotherapy, her mother said.
“When we learnt this was 70 doses – one every week – we couldn’t imagine how we could manage,” Jennifer told Shetland News.
“Thankfully Etta has some incredibly dedicated NHS staff who planned and trained to facilitate her treatment mostly here on the island.
“This has been incredibly important to keep Etta here at home and attending high school.”
Murray said that Howard had been a major part of Etta’s cancer journey since she was first diagnosed aged just five.
She told the family that she was planning to take on the 70km challenge after being inspired by Etta, and in order to raise money for her chosen charities.
Jennifer said Jan was “incredible”, adding they were “very grateful to have her as part of Etta’s team, who take such great care of her”.
Jan, who has been running as form of therapy for the past eight years, said she had always wanted to run an ultra-marathon before taking on this monumental challenge.
“The William Wallace 70k looked perfect, because it gave me the ‘why’ to run such a long way and also to give something back,” she told Shetland News.
“Etta and her family are so brave and never complain through all they are going through, and it was an honour run to support her.
“I asked Etta which charity she would like me to run for and she picked Shetland Macmillan and Make-a-Wish foundation, both of which have helped her tremendously.”
Jan said that the run itself was a “fantastic experience”, with temperatures hitting an unseasonable 18°C in Stirling – a far cry from Shetland’s wind and rain.
She admitted she had “made a few rookie ultra mistakes” by carrying far too much weight in her backpack, a full 6kgs, which weighed her down.
And she said she did not work out the navigation on her watch, relying on the well-marked course to ensure she did not get lost.
The gruelling endurance test took its toll on her body towards the end, Jan said, making her “quite sick” as she approached the finish line.
But she said her bairns were waiting to greet her at the end of the race, “which was really special”.
Jan thanked everyone who has donated to her fundraiser so far – with £1,660 raised from a £500 target – adding: “It will make a big difference”.
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
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