Tara leads the charge at fundraising event

Tara, who had been travelling the world as a photographer on cruise ships prior to her diagnosis, stepped on stage to rally around 2,000 participants before sounding the air horn at Stormont Estate to kick off the 5K and 10K races - raising vital funds for Cancer Research UK.

The 33-year-old was diagnosed with cervical cancer on April 1 2015.

Unfortunately Tara was not suitable for surgery, as the cancer had already spread, but when she was given the chance to take part in a new clinical trial, funded by Cancer Research UK, she seized the opportunity.

“It was a very easy decision to make” said Tara, who was the first person in Northern Ireland to enter the trial.

She has just completed two years on the trial, which means she has now finished treatment and will be monitored for the next three years.

She said: “Treatment became my number one priority and everything else fell by the wayside.

“I looked different after steroids increased my weight and I had hair loss. I wasn’t able to exercise nor was I able to work.

“But I loved being part of a trial. It felt like I was doing everything I could to smack that tumour into oblivion and with the extra monitoring I had peace of mind knowing follow up is every three months.”

Her advice to others in the same position is, “It is imperative that we raise awareness. Although people are already aware of the existence of cancer, they should be adamant about getting check-ups, smears, screening etc. I missed one smear test where my cancer could possibly have been detected earlier and less treatment needed.

“Having a smear test done within five minutes is much easier than going through chemotherapy. It could mean the difference between life and death – why take the chance?”