After surviving a rare brain cancer and enduring three surgeries, a nine-year-old schoolgirl is set to take on a messy charity challenge with her friends.
Kara McInally, who has been picked to sound the horn at Cancer Research UK's Pretty Muddy Kids, a 5k mud-laden obstacle course taking place at Strathclyde Country Park on June 15, is now free from cancer.
She heads 'Sassy Squad', a group of her friends from Ladywell Primary School in Motherwell, who extended their support throughout her battle with cancer.
Teaming up with her cousin Lola McGranaghan, nine, the squad has pledged to crawl through mud, scoot under scramble nets and bounce on space hoppers. Up till now, they have managed to raise £840.
Throughout her challenge, Kara will garner the support of her parents, Laura, 36, and Kevin McInally, 47, along with her three-year-old sister Khloe.
Mum Laura McInally said: "Kara’s strength, resilience and love for life kept us going through the darkest of days and I’m so proud of her.
"It was the worst feeling in the world when Kara was diagnosed with cancer. But sometimes real superheroes live in the hearts of small children fighting really big battles. Kara was supported by her friends throughout, ensuring she was never alone in her fight. They have always stuck by her. When we went to Manchester for seven weeks of Kara’s treatment some of them would write to her, they’d facetime her. We were 250 miles away from home but they’d still work hard to keep her company.
"There were many gestures of kindness from Kara’s besties. When Kara was going back to school after her second cycle of chemotherapy and had lost the vast majority of her hair a group of her friends turned up to school all wearing a baseball cap just like the one Kara was wearing. They did that so Kara didn’t feel alone or different going in to school that day. It was a form of unity to support Kara that I’ll always be grateful for."
The family has acknowledged how essential research is in extending the time people can spend with their loved ones.
Laura recollects the moment before Christmas in 2021 when Kara fell ill. Mild yet persistent headaches led to an eye test at the optician, where a swollen optic nerve was detected in Kara. Subsequently, she was taken into University Hospital Hairmyres in East Kilbride.
After further scans uncovered a growth in her skull, she was transferred to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, where she underwent her first surgery to remove a 4cm tumour from her brain just four days later.
Despite a steady recovery, the family endured a painful wait throughout the Christmas holidays for the test results. On January 10, 2022, Kara was diagnosed with a grade three, anaplastic ependymoma tumour. Kara then travelled to Manchester in February to undergo seven weeks of proton beam therapy at The Christie, an NHS centre.
This strain of radiotherapy was recommended as it helps reduce the probability of damage to developing or sensitive organs. However, it compelled Laura to leave her baby daughter Khloe to accompany Kara. Four months of chemotherapy in Glasgow followed.
In November 2022, the tumour returned, leading to another round of brain surgery for Kara. Later, in spring 2023, she underwent a third surgery. There was a huge relief when a biopsy revealed that there was only scar tissue.
Her parents received the news in June 2023; Kara was officially cancer-free and required no more treatments or surgeries. To commemorate a year of being in remission, she will be participating in Pretty Muddy Kids this year.
The McInallys set up an Instagram account named @sassy_wee_lassie to document Kara's battle with cancer which includes regular updates and photographs.
They extend their support and advice to other families going through the same ordeal. Around 320 young people are diagnosed with cancer each year in Scotland.
The Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow is amongst the many centres across the UK that are conducting ground-breaking clinical trials facilitated by Cancer Research UK's children's cancer trials team.
As part of the research, they are studying the best possible treatment methods for children and young adults with ependymoma brain tumours.
Cancer Research UK's Race for Life, supported by the headline sponsor Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, hosts an inspiring series of events that raise millions each year to aid in cancer research.
Their Pretty Muddy events serve as an amusing form of charity, with participants crawling through mud pits, inflatable pink tubes, a climbing frame and bouncing on space hoppers, among other challenges.
The entries for Pretty Muddy events in Scotland are currently open.
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