ABERDEEN, June 28 — A young woman from Moray who was rushed to hospital after a tumour was found pressing against her heart has marked a year in remission by launching a major Race for Life event. Trainee ambulance technician Kayla Esson, 22, sounded the starter horn for around 1,100 participants at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in Aberdeen on Sunday. Kayla, who lives in Buckie, was guest of honour at the event, which offered 3k, 5k and 10k routes.
More than £100,000 was raised, with funds going to help scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. She was joined by her mother, Nicolle Beattie, who completed both the 10k and 5k in her daughter’s honour.
“I felt incredibly proud to stand on the start line to launch Race for Life,” Kayla said. She described how her “world changed” after the cancer diagnosis, adding: “My first thought was, am I going to die? I wish I could have seen then where I am today.
What a difference a year makes. I’m doing well now and I’m determined to pay it forward to help others.” Kayla was treated for primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the area behind the breastbone and between the lungs.
She began her first chemotherapy session on March 12, 2025, and underwent six sessions in total. On June 22 last year, during an appointment in Aberdeen, her consultant Dr Gavin Preston told her she was in remission. The encouraging part of her story is how she shared that news.
Kayla, who had documented her cancer journey on Instagram and TikTok, visited her loved ones one by one — including her gran and best friends — to tell them the cancer had gone. In April this year, Kayla was named Hero of Heroes at the 2026 Moray & Banffshire Heroes Awards. For a young woman who faced a tumour pressing against her heart, the turnaround has been remarkable.
Early findings from her case suggest that timely diagnosis and treatment can make a significant difference for patients with this type of lymphoma. Patients should remember that every cancer journey is different, and what works for one person may not work for another.
The encouraging part of events like Race for Life is that they bring communities together while funding research that may one day lead to better treatments for everyone. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about symptoms or treatment options. Looking ahead, Kayla’s determination to “pay it forward” offers a message of hope for others facing a cancer diagnosis.
She has shown that a year can make a profound difference, and her story may encourage others to seek medical advice early if they notice anything unusual. Consult your doctor for medical advice.
