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Paula Radcliffe has shared her emotional journey as her daughter Isla, a cancer survivor, prepares to run the London Marathon.
Former British Olympian Paula Radcliffe is preparing for a proud yet emotional moment as her 17-year-old daughter, Isla, takes on the London Marathon this April.
The three-time London Marathon winner will be cheering her daughter on at the start line, where Isla is set to follow in her mother’s footsteps by completing the grueling 26.2-mile race.
Isla’s run, however, is about far more than athletic ambition. Diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer at just 13, Isla’s battle with the disease has shaped her determination to give back.
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She’s pledged to raise funds for Children with Cancer UK, a charity that supported her family during her toughest times.
“I was given the diagnosis that nobody wants to hear when the doctor said Isla had cancer. I burst into tears but had to stop crying and pull myself together before Isla came back into the room," said Paul.
The diagnosis came in 2020, after Isla began experiencing pain in her bladder and abnormal bleeding between periods.
Paula’s intuition as a mother led her to seek medical advice, and scans revealed the devastating news: Isla had a malignant germ cell tumor, a rare condition affecting only one in 200,000 women.
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Throughout it all, Paula and her husband, former coach Gary Lough, leaned on their family’s sporting mindset to stay strong.
“When we were over the initial shock and the medical team had explained everything, having that sporting background helped,” Paula shared.
“We had a treatment plan – like all the training plans I have followed over the years, and it was something we could stick to and see things improving.”
Now cancer-free, Isla’s resilience shines as she embarks on this new challenge.
“It was all about managing that situation and trying to keep the humor alive,” Isla said of her recovery.
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Her decision to run the London Marathon was her own, driven by a desire to make a difference for families facing similar struggles.
“Isla wants to make a difference – she just came out and told me she is doing it. It will be wonderful,” Paula said, her voice full of pride.
While Paula will be in the BBC commentary booth on race day, she’ll be keeping a close eye on her daughter’s progress. Thanks to her mother’s decades of experience, Isla is getting access to top-tier advice.
Paula has even launched a 16-week limited podcast series alongside Team GB runner Chris Thompson to guide marathon participants, including her daughter, through the rigorous training process.
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Paula reflects, “She just wants to get round the race to help others. It’s really emotional for me as her mum, knowing what she’s been through and seeing her take this on.”
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