Dying mum held on to see her daughter complete the London marathon - before passing away hours later
- last year
A dying mum held on to see her daughter complete the London marathon - before passing away just hours later.
Lana Freeman, 33, decided to take part in the endurance race last October to raise money for Breast Cancer Research charity after her mum's shock diagnosis.
Despite ''absolutely hating'' running and having no previous experience, Lana took on the challenge and completed the race in six hours and 46 minutes.
Her mum, Sharon Freeman, 57, had been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer - leaving the family ''devastated''.
But proud Sharon ''clung on'' to support her daughter before she died.
Just two weeks before the marathon, devoted Lana was ready to pull out of the race, when Sharon took a turn for the worst.
Sharon, a carer, from Lowestoft, Suffolk was ''adamant'' that she complete the challenge and bring home a medal.
Determined to make her mum proud, Lana pushed through and managed to complete the London Marathon on October 2, 2022.
Mum- of-three, Sharon was shown a photo of Lana at the finish line, but sadly passed away in the early hours the following morning.
Lana has since taken up regular running to help cope with her grief and says it helps her feel close to her mum.
Lana, a finance analyst, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, said: "Mum was adamant that she'd see me finish the marathon.
Sharon - who was married to Paul Freeman, 58 - was first diagnosed with breast cancer in in February 2012, when Lana was just 23 years old.
In February 2020, Lana was left devastated when she received a call from her mum to say the cancer was back.
"It was such an awful time," Lana explained.
"Mum phoned to say the cancer was back, but it was just before the lockdown, and we were terrified of her catching covid.
"I felt so powerless, and wanted to find something that I could do that could make a small difference.
"Everyone who knows me knows how much I hate running, so I thought a marathon would be a huge challenge to set myself to raise money for breast cancer research."
In March 2022, Lana found out that she'd been given a place to take part in the London marathon.
Two weeks before the marathon, Sharon - who was having treatment at James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk - saw her health rapidly decline.
Medics informed the family the cancer had spread to her liver, bones and lungs.
Lana decided to pull out of the race to care for her mother, but Sharon was adamant that she would complete the marathon.
Lana Freeman, 33, decided to take part in the endurance race last October to raise money for Breast Cancer Research charity after her mum's shock diagnosis.
Despite ''absolutely hating'' running and having no previous experience, Lana took on the challenge and completed the race in six hours and 46 minutes.
Her mum, Sharon Freeman, 57, had been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer - leaving the family ''devastated''.
But proud Sharon ''clung on'' to support her daughter before she died.
Just two weeks before the marathon, devoted Lana was ready to pull out of the race, when Sharon took a turn for the worst.
Sharon, a carer, from Lowestoft, Suffolk was ''adamant'' that she complete the challenge and bring home a medal.
Determined to make her mum proud, Lana pushed through and managed to complete the London Marathon on October 2, 2022.
Mum- of-three, Sharon was shown a photo of Lana at the finish line, but sadly passed away in the early hours the following morning.
Lana has since taken up regular running to help cope with her grief and says it helps her feel close to her mum.
Lana, a finance analyst, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, said: "Mum was adamant that she'd see me finish the marathon.
Sharon - who was married to Paul Freeman, 58 - was first diagnosed with breast cancer in in February 2012, when Lana was just 23 years old.
In February 2020, Lana was left devastated when she received a call from her mum to say the cancer was back.
"It was such an awful time," Lana explained.
"Mum phoned to say the cancer was back, but it was just before the lockdown, and we were terrified of her catching covid.
"I felt so powerless, and wanted to find something that I could do that could make a small difference.
"Everyone who knows me knows how much I hate running, so I thought a marathon would be a huge challenge to set myself to raise money for breast cancer research."
In March 2022, Lana found out that she'd been given a place to take part in the London marathon.
Two weeks before the marathon, Sharon - who was having treatment at James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk - saw her health rapidly decline.
Medics informed the family the cancer had spread to her liver, bones and lungs.
Lana decided to pull out of the race to care for her mother, but Sharon was adamant that she would complete the marathon.