A charity worker from Enfield will be running in the London Marathon to raise awareness for ovarian cancer.

Emma Kennedy, 27, from Uplands Way will be making the 42 kilometre run in behalf of Target Ovarian Cancer in order to support women battling the disease.

Miss Kennedy has seen first-hand how devastating the illness is, after her mother, Caroline, was diagnosed last January. Caroline has finished six rounds of chemotherapy in July at University College Hospital and is currently on a drug trial for two years there.

Caroline back at work and according to a spokesperson for Target Ovarian Cancer, she is doing really well.

Each year 7,300 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and when it is detected at the earliest stage chances of surviving the disease for five years or more doubles from just 46 per cent to more than 90 per cent.

Target Ovarian Cancer aims to raise awareness of the symptoms to help to promote early diagnosis. Miss Kennedy said “Before my mum was diagnosed, none of my family knew that the symptoms that she experiences were those of ovarian cancer. It’s disheartening to know that there are many others out there who are unaware of the symptoms as well.

“Persistent bloating and pelvic pain are often misdiagnosed so it’s important to voice all of your concerns to your GP.”

UK survival rates for ovarian cancer are amongst the lowest in Europe, each year roughly 4,100 women in the country lose their lives. Miss Kennedy is one of 18 runners joining together to help to raise awareness and funds to support crucial research into the cancer in its early stages, to help insure early diagnosis.

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