Lolita Oakes with Tufnell Park school pupils who joined her for the final stretch

THE daughter of a woman with inoperable brain cancer has run a marathon to fundraise for her mother’s care – and pupils at her Tufnell Park school joined her for the final stretch.

Seven-year-old Lolita Oakes spent a week running a 42 kilometre marathon in the mornings before school. Lolita, a Year 2 student at Eleanor Palmer was joined by her friend Juliet Deilinger, 7, along with 10-year-old Scarlett.

They have been raising money for Lolita’s mother Cordelia Taylor, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer in 2018.

Ms Taylor underwent brain surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy to beat the cancer not once but twice.

She surprised her doctors by staying tumour-free for four years, but Ms Taylor recently discovered the cancer has returned for a third time, and this time the tumour is inoperable.

The race is now on to fundraise £100,000 for life-extending treatment for Ms Taylor. As of today, more than £68,000 had been raised.

Ms Taylor’s family and friends hope to raise money to fund a biopsy on the tumour. Doctors may be able to conduct genetic sequencing on this biopsy, opening up new treatment options.

Lolita (centre) after running the marathon with her two friends

The Tribune was at the school last month to witness the last leg of the race, which saw all pupils accompany Lolita and her friends for the final stretch – and supporters cheering everybody to the finish line.

Ms Taylor told the Tribune that the marathon felt like a “love bomb”.

She said: “Knowing that there are so many people that are in this together, and especially in this world at the moment, that we can all do it, that we can all come together when we need to, especially in a local community like this. It’s just phenomenal.”

“They’ve been starting every single morning at 7.30 in the morning, and running 5 kilometres every day. I don’t think most adults could do that,” Ms Taylor added.

Ms Taylor’s mother, Georgia Vaquerizo-Taylor, said: “It is just overwhelming because my daughter has got the most incredible team… they’ve done the most unbelievable work. They worked through the day, through the night… the response has been just so amazing.”

Eleanor Palmer co-headteacher Sally Hill said: “We’re incredibly proud of what the girls have done, it’s something they’ve come up with themselves, it’s entirely driven by them. The sheer resilience and the determination to achieve such a great thing is so amazing.

“And what’s been wonderful is how the school community’s support has grown over this week. Every day more children and parents have run together.”

To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Cordelias-Together-for-Tomorrow-treatment-fund