Laois sepsis survivor to run London marathon in husband's memory

A Laois woman who survived sepsis is about to run her first marathon, in honour of her late husband who died from cancer.

Portlaoise native Sue Harte moved to Clapham in London in the 1980's with her husband Damien.

They had 42 happy years and two children together, and took on many exciting mountain hikes.

Sadly Damien died aged 64 in 2020, after a battle with a rare cancer called Sarcoma.

In honour of his long term wish to do a marathon, brave Sue who never before even ran 5km, is training hard for the past eight months to run the London Marathon aged 64.

So far she has raised over €11,000 for Sarcoma UK.

She tells the touching story.

"On the 21st of September 2025 it will be FIVE whole years since my beloved Damien died from the rare cancer Sarcoma.

"Damien loved trekking and loved a challenge; the photo below was taken in May 2018 as we summited Mount Toubkal in North Africa. After our descent and back in Marrakech, sipping champagne, Damien had a pain in his side and thought he had pulled a muscle and there began his 2-year cancer journey.

"We were lucky to do a final trek just before lockdown hit in March 2020. In February 2020 we travelled to Oman to hike in the Jebal Akhdar mountains. We hiked 2,000 feet into a canyon and back up again, while I was almost on my hands and knees - Damien breezed it, he was fit as a fiddle. The cancer had metasticised at this point and astonishingly he hiked with SEVEN tumours in his lungs.

"Damien was only 64 years old, and had great joie de vivre, he faced his cancer journey with courage, bravery, and humour and selflessness.

"Damien was a warrior - my warrior, my soulmate and the love of my life and the best father and friend to Conor and Maeve. Damien and I were together for 42 years he died on the 21st of September 2020.

"To honour Damien’s life and his love of challenges I will be doing the London Marathon in 2025. Those who know me, know I’m no runner, in fact, I don’t really like it but in a fit of the vapours one evening I decided to apply to run on the Sarcoma UK Team and they accepted me!

"Taking part in the London Marathon will be an enormous challenge for me and great big ‘up yours’ to the sepsis I survived last year. I will be starting from scratch, a complete beginner. 

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"Sarcoma is a rare cancer, it makes up 2% of all cancers diagnosed in the UK each year. It has over 100 subtypes, and according to Sarcoma UK it is referred to as the 'loneliest cancer" because those diagnosed with the cancer sometimes never meet anyone with their subtype of sarcoma. Damien was diagnosed with myxofibrosarcoma, there are roughly 178 cases each year.

Her fundraiser is for Sarcoma UK which funds research and offers support. Sarcoma develops in the bone and soft tissue, is difficult to diagnose and one of the hardest to treat.

Sue has given an update just before she tackled the London Marathon, which takes place on Sunday, April 27.

"I ran 15 miles last weekend, when I write those words I just can’t believe I am doing this challenge. My knee is not great tbh and I’m hoping the euphoria on the day will get me to the finish. One again I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your generosity, Sarcoma UK will make good use of the money," she said.

See Sue Harte's JustGiving fundraiser page here to donate.