Shane McGuigan takes on the race of his life to run the London Marathon for Young Lives vs Cancer in memory of his sister

BOXING trainer and former amateur Irish boxer Shane McGuigan is swapping the gym and ring for the race of his life as he takes on the TCS London Marathon on Sunday 27 April to raise money for charity.  

Shane, son of former world champion boxer Barry McGuigan, is aiming for an impressive sub-3-hour race, all whilst running in his sister’s memory and raising vital funds for Young Lives vs Cancer, the UK’s leading charity for children and young people with cancer. 

Shane’s sister Danika was diagnosed with leukaemia aged 11, when Shane was eight years old. Danika sadly died from bowel cancer in 2019 aged 33. Barry McGuigan recently shared the heartbreaking impact of losing Danika on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here.  

Shane said: “My parents and my brothers have known the devastating impact that childhood cancer can have on the whole family. There’s unfortunately a lot of different cancers that affect children and this cause is so close to my heart. 

“My sister was diagnosed with cancer when I was eight, and it took our family literally by the scruff of our necks and turned us upside down. If I can help raise money and awareness towards the charity that would be really, really fulfilling for me.” 

From the moment of diagnosis, Young Lives vs Cancer Specialist Social Workers provide young people and families’ practical and emotional support. The support extends to sibling support too, to help support brothers and sisters of young people with cancer, like Shane, adjust to the new situation they find themselves in. 

The charity arranges grants and help them get the benefits and other support they’re entitled to. The charity’s accommodation centres offer families a free place to stay nearby to the hospital to ease the financial burden of travel and to keep families together. 

Shane will be running alongside more than 300 runners running for the marathon as part of Team Young Lives – and running alongside another sporting name – Leonardo Bonucci.  

As a keen runner, Shane said running has helped him cope and process his grief and has become a huge passion of his whilst he trains for the marathon. 

Shane said: “A big part of my life has changed recently with running. A couple of years ago, running was something that gave me clarity and solitude and the ability to have a bit of me time.  

“With being at home with two young children and at the gym all the time it’s all-consuming, people after your attention, and I don’t get much me time. One of the most valuable times of the day is that hour running, when I get some peace and quiet.  

“It’s a passion of mine that I have pursued. I’ve always wanted to get back into it since my boxing days, but I think there was a lot of attachment when it came to running around my training and runs and the gym with my sister, and obviously when she passed, I never really wanted to get back into it.  

“It was always one of the things I just put on the backburner and ignored, but it’s probably been one of the best things for me to process the loss of my sister. 

“Running is also working towards becoming a better person, more energised and a happy individual. Its goal related and having a bit of ambition and target for yourself. I’ve been training fighters for so many years, and I’ve never put an onus on myself and training.  

“I’ve got a lot of work to do to get better at my passion which is running, but for me I’ve got a target out there and it’s trying to get as close to two hours 45 minutes for the London Marathon.  

“If you can donate, even a couple of pounds, that would be great. Because this horrible disease takes so many young people’s lives, so many old people’s lives and at some stage you’ve got a chance of getting cancer and it’s not just about how it affects that individual, but also how it affects their families.  

“Young Lives vs Cancer is a support network and system and is for the extended family, not just the person being affected. If I can do my little part which is to run as fast as I can for 26.2 miles, then I feel that will give me some form of fulfilment and satisfaction, and this is the start of my journey and road to London.” 

To sponsor Shane’s London Marathon challenge, visit: https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/shane-mcguigan