News and events

A group of NHS nurses will join a Hertfordshire couple this month who are running to raise funds for research into a rare type of childhood cancer which led to their daughter’s death aged 13.

Alan Birikorang and his wife Chiara Contillo will be taking on the Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday 12 October and will be joined by members of our children’s community nursing team. Nurses Liv Carroll, Charlotte Dalton and Cira Morton helped care for their daughter Daisy, who died at her Watford home in November 2023 after being diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of childhood cancer. 

Following her death, Alan and Chiara launched Daisy’s Arc in partnership with Alice’s Arc charity to fund research projects into Rhabdomyosarcoma and support others affected by childhood cancer. Despite affecting approximately 60-70 children in the UK each year, childhood cancers like Rhabdomyosarcoma remain severely underfunded.



Chiara said: “This is our way to continue loving Daisy in a way that makes her absence an absolute presence.”

“While we cannot change Daisy’s story, we are determined to change the narrative for the children that are on treatment and those yet to be diagnosed. We can't do this alone.”

“We are running because ‘running out of options’ is not an option. On 12 October 2025 we will all run with Daisy in our hearts and with her warrior butterfly printed on our chest.”

Alan and Chiara's daughter, Daisy, was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of 12. Following many hospital admissions and treatments, Daisy and her parents were told that the treatments were no longer working. Daisy made the decision to stop treatments and to spend her final weeks at home.

During her illness, Daisy and her parents were supported by a number of charities and cared for at home with support from our children’s community nursing service. Staff from Great Ormond Street Hospital, friends and colleagues from Barclays will be among the supporters also joining the run. 

The couple have already raised more than £8,000 and have a target of £50,000. To donate, visit their JustGiving page.

Earlier this year, Alan and Chiara spoke out during Dying Matters Week to raise awareness of the language around terminal cancer used by medical professionals. The couple challenged the use of the phrase ‘losing the battle’ as they said it implied there are winners and losers. You can watch their interview with our team on our Youtube channel.