A mum has lost eight stone to run the Bury 10k to help raise funds for her friend’s daughter who has battled two cancers.

Jenny Toole, from Radcliffe, is a full-time carer for her six-year-old son Kristian Ince aged six and weighed 21 stone when she was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia just before last Christmas.

But the 31-year-old has worked hard to lose the weight to allow her to take part in the run on Sunday, October 1 in aid of her friend Chelsea Carter's six-year-old girl Elizabeth Grundy, from Wythenshawe.

Elizabeth is believed to be one of only four children worldwide to have ever been diagnosed with both neuroblastoma and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

Jenny said: “I realised I need to lose weight once and for all – for myself and for my son.

“It had crept on since my pregnancy and while it has gone up and down a bit, I put on even more during Covid.

“I didn’t follow a specific diet plan but simply cut out loads of things, eat a high protein diet and keep a close eye on calories, carbs and fats.

“In April I started running and joined a gym, where I have a fantastic personal trainer.

“I decided to sign up to the Bury 10K to give me more motivation but also to help Elizabeth, who is an amazing child – no-one should have to go through everything she’s gone through, especially at such a young age.

“She’s the bravest child I’ve ever met.”

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Elizabeth was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma at 10 days old and underwent chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell harvesting, seven operations and countless transfusions before she was aged 18 months.

During this time she endured meningitis, sepsis and was left deaf in both ears.

Elizabeth was dealt a further blow in May 2022 when she developed a limp and was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Now a wheelchair-user and largely tube-fed, she is in the maintenance phase of the illness and her family hope she will be given the all-clear at the end of this year.

However, with neuroblastoma having an 80 per cent chance of relapse and ALL around a 10 to 15 per cent chance, her family are raising funds to allow Elizabeth to take part in a trial which could help prevent this.

Chelsea, 38, said: “Initially we thought we needed to raise £127,000 for treatment in America.

“It’s now possible that there will be a UK trial, though it’s not definite and even if it happens, there will still be costs involved.

“Elizabeth has a lot to deal with but she’s also a superhero who loves swimming, drawing and being outside, and we want to give her the best chance possible.”

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Elizabeth’s family is being supported by children’s charity Tree of Hope which helps families fundraise for children with healthcare needs and provides charity status to benefit from gift aid, corporate support while also providing donor reassurance.

Tree of Hope CEO Gill Gibb added: “We are delighted to be supporting the Carter family with their fundraising and wish Jenny the best of luck with her 10K challenge.”

To donate to Elizabeth’s fund, visit https://www.treeofhope.org.uk/elizabeth-grundy/

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