Bosworth Ave, Horninglow - Kids raised money for cancer research.L TO R:.Kiera Harlow, Carole Ibbotson (Cance research), Megan Warren, Amy Smith.AN 11-year-old girl who lost her father to cancer just two month after diagnosis has raised money in his memory.
Kiera Harlow decided to turn an organised run with her school, The de Ferrers Academy, into her own sponsored event, and with help from friends Amy Smith and Megan Warren, managed to raise £213.39 for Cancer Research UK.
Kiera said: “I wanted to make him proud and make people aware of what a horrible disease cancer is and that you can make a difference.”
Simon Harlow was on holiday in October, last year, when he started being sick two days into the trip.
His skin had turned yellow when he returned home and went to the doctors.
Test revealed he was suffering from pancreatic cancer and it had spread to his liver.
He was diagnosed on November 2, but had to wait until his liver function had returned to normal before chemotherapy could start.
In the meantime, the 48-year-old set targets for himself to achieve. He married his girlfriend and also managed to take Kiera to a pantomime despite being very ill at the time.
On January 14 the father-of-three was due to see the oncologist after his liver function returned to normal but was too ill to make the trip, dying just two days later.
Kiera’s mother, Janet Wright, of Bosworth Drive, Horninglow, said: “The school was organising a run, and Kiera decided to change hers to a sponsored run
“Her friends, Amy Smith and Megan Warren helped and they asked teachers, pupils, friends and family.
“I am so proud of her. She did it off her own back and so soon after her dad passed away.
“Her dad would have been as proud as punch.”
Kiera added: “The run was quite hard as I have a bone condition and it took my breath away as there were quite a few hills but I would like to raise money again.”
