A Scots man is set to take on a mountainous challenge to raise money for charity and support his sister following her heartbreaking cancer diagnosis.
Sean Duff, 35, felt “helpless” when he first discovered his sister has breast cancer back in March 2024, and he didn’t know what he could do to offer his support.
The 35-year-old decided to take on the challenge of a 10k, 5k, and full Edinburgh Marathon this year to show his sister he is there for her and spread awareness for other young women who may be at risk, reports Edinburgh Live.
His sister, Elana Bell, was diagnosed at 37-years-old and is currently undergoing 10 months of chemotherapy and will be on hormone therapy for the next 10 years.
Sean said training for the marathon is a distraction for everything else that is going on, but admits he really struggled when he was told the news for the first time.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, he said: “Me and my big sister are so close – there is only a couple of years between us. Since we are so young, I really did struggle when she told me.
“I couldn’t even speak, I just started crying and passed the phone to my wife. My big sister took it better than me, I was the person she was most scared to tell because she knew I would take the news the worst. It was almost like she was there for me rather than me being there for her.
“I did feel helpless at the start and I wanted to know what I could do to show my sister that I am trying to support her and the marathon was the thing I decided to do.”
The siblings would often go running together before Elana’s diagnosis and even took part in a marathon back in 2023 – which Sean vowed never to do again. However, he has decided to put those thoughts to the back of his mind.
He will be raising money for charity, Breast Cancer Now, who have offered his sister a wide range of support.
He added: “Years ago I used to go running with my big sister – in 2013 we did the marathon and I really struggled but my sister got me through it
“After that I said I would never run another marathon because I hated it but as soon as this happened I knew I needed to do it and raise awareness for the illness.
“I am doing the 5k, 10k and the marathon on the same weekend – I have just went all in. My sister is actually joining me for the 10k and that has gave her a goal as well.”
Since the diagnosis was caught early for Elana, she is going to survive the illness and has been described by her brother as a “superhuman”.
“She has been so overwhelmed by how much everyone cares. She went through 10 weeks of chemotherapy which she started last April. She had her surgery in the September and the plan was by Christmas she would be over the worst of it but she is now having to do another 10 months of chemo and she started that in November.
“But she is feeling more human again and is more positive. Since she checked herself so regularly, she caught it straight away and treatment started soon after.
“She has hard days where you can tell she is putting on a front for everyone else but she has been amazing, it’s been inspiring. It’s like she’s a superhuman.
“People can’t believe her age and that’s been the biggest thing for me – I am always wanting people to check themselves because am so paranoid about it. I just hope I can keep spreading awareness.”