Micheal clocks up 170 miles after wife’s breast cancer battle

Micheal Dillon, manager of Primark in Bow Street, will have clocked up 170 miles after completing five marathons and a 40 mile run from Belfast to Newry on June 29.

Funds raised from the events will go towards Daisy Lodge in Newcastle a respite centre for families.

Micheal decided on running the five marathons after his wife Sinead was diagnosed and successfully beat breast cancer last year.

Five days a week for five weeks his wife had to undergo radiotherapy at the cancer centre at the City Hospital.

“It was overwhelming the amount of people going through the same exhaustive process of not only the therapy but also the daily travel from far and wide,” said Micheal.

“When I was down there I saw kids undergoing radiotherapy. I was thinking that it was horrible enough for us to go something like this but for children it must be worse.

“Seeing the children and what they were going through it was heartbreaking yet they were all so brave.

“After a little bit of research we found that the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children were building the Daisy Lodge in Newcastle to replace the Shimna Valley complex which can no longer cope with the numbers and was not purpose built for children.”

Daisy Lodge will provide therapeutic breaks to up to 500 families a year affected by cancer. Bereaved families will also be offered stays.

So far, Micheal father-of-three Emma (9), Grace (6) and Tom (1) has completed the Dublin Marathon in October, London in April 13 and Belfast earlier this month.

He still has the Newry Marathon and one at Mourneway before he finishes with a 40 mile run.

Other Primark stores who has helped raise funds through their coffee morning and raffles. The Derry and Ballymena store raised £200 each, the Abbey Centre raised £575 and the Newry store raised £2000.

Daisy Lodge will be the first facility of its kind in Europe and will offer short breaks to up to 500 families every year.

When opened it will give families a chance to recharge their batteries and relax away from the gruelling routine of hospital visits stress and worry.

Anyone looking to donate money can do so by going to his Justgiving page http://www.justgiving.com/Micheal-Dillon