Inspirational cancer survivor used St Helens 10k as recovery goal

Many people take part in the St Helens 10k for special reasons, but this year was a very special moment for Nichola Troilett from St Helens town centre who used the event to keep her going following a devastating cancer diagnosis last year.

The 52-year-old signed up to the 2022 event and was excited to take on her first official 10k after catching the running bug.

Nichola with her loved ones who ran the race with her (Image: Nichola Troilett)

However after a routine mammogram discovered she had breast cancer she was forced to have immediate treatment, leading to her having an operation to remove the cancer in February 2022.

She said: “I asked my surgeon if I could still do the 10k but they said absolutely not, I was gutted. I signed up because I wanted to push myself, so I decided to get better and push myself to do the 2023 event instead, that’s been my goal all along.”

Her tshirt she wore during the 10k (Image: Nichola Troilett)

So after her operation, Nichola, who is a cook at Portico Poppets Nursery, underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, lost her hair and could barely walk around the block.

However, she says she wouldn’t lose hope and kept pushing herself to do the St Helens 10k and after ringing the end of treatment bell in September, she has been slowly building herself up ever since.

Her loved ones wore tshirts with their names on the front and this message on the back (Image: Nichola Troilett)

So alongside seven loved ones on Sunday, and donning a balloon with Hope written on it and a t-shirt emblazoned with ‘If I can do cancer, I can do anything’ she ran the St Helens 10k, crossing the finish line with her proud sister-in-law Jayne with a time of one hour and 15 mins.

After spotting Nichola at the finish line, she cried and told the Star, “It was amazing,” before adding “Six months ago I couldn’t even walk around the block and I’ve just done that. I’m really pleased with myself.”

She added: “Everyone has been so supportive, my family, friends- and colleagues and the amazing staff at the Lilac centre who are just incredible.

Nichola's family and friends ran the event with her and cheered her on as she crossed the finish line (Image: Nichola Troilett)

“For me to run that 10k just meant everything, I didn’t care how long I took I just wanted to do it. And I did, with everyone with me. It’s an amazing thing to do, I’m really proud of myself.”

Nichola and her loved ones ran the event in Nichola’s honour but also to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. They have currently raised £400.

Her husband's tshirt (Image: Nichola Troilett)