A compassionate nursery owner is getting ready for the race of her life after being inspired by brave toddlers suffering from leukaemia.
Over the years Heather Ashcroft has seen children laughing and playing at the Chestnut House Day Nursery in Saughall despite suffering from side effects and conditions associated with cancer.
Now after her sister-in-law was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia at just 30-years-old, Heather has vowed to raise £3,000 by taking part in her first ever marathon – with a little help from the toddlers at the nursery.
On Friday children dressed-up as witches, pumpkins and ghastly ghouls as they bobbed for apples and had their faces painted to help raise £480 during a special Hallowe'en party at Conkers, the nursery’s outdoor education centre.
Heather, who owns and lives at the nursery on Church Road with her husband Jason, is currently braving the cold and rain as she starts her training to run the 26.2 mile race in April next year.
But Heather, who is a trained nurse and is currently working as a part time lecturer at the University of Chester while writing her PhD, said she is being inspired to compete in her first ever running challenge by her brave sister-in-law, also called Heather, who always has a smile on her face.
“You wouldn’t know by looking at her that she has leukaemia,” said Heather, who said her sister-in-law who lives in Sheffield, was only 30 when she was diagnosed with the cancer, which is most common in older people.
“Being diagnosed at such a young age was a shock to us all. She is stable at the moment but she will be on medication for the rest of her life.
“It just shows that you have got to live life to the full and take every opportunity as it comes. She is an absolute inspiration, she never complains about anything, she just gets on with it.”
Inspired by her sister-in-law's positive attitude, and the children at the nursery, Heather is hoping to run her first ever marathon at 28-years-old – something she is both excited and apprehensive about.
“I’m doing a couple of kilometres a week. I used to run for the county when I was at school, but I have never done a marathon before,” said Heather, who is planning on doing a number of fundraising events across Chester and in Sheffield.
Heather, who will be watched by her sister-in-law, brother Andrew, friends and family as she takes part in the London Marathon, says she hopes to complete the race in under four hours and raise awareness for the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Charity which has helped so many people in her life.
“The support we have had from everyone at the nursery and in the community has been fantastic,” said Heather.
“I just want to raise awareness and money for them to do the research that is needed.”
To donate to Heather’s fundraising challenge visit
