Hello people!

On Sunday 25th April I completed the 2010 London Marathon. I did it in 4hr 6 mins. It was the hardest thing I have ever done and that really was the very best I could do. I had nothing left to give as I crossed the finish line.

To explain very briefly, I am one of the Haematology Research Clinical Nurse Specialists At UCLH and have been so for the past 3.5 years. This year I was "lucky" (!!) enough to attain a place in the Marathon raising money for UCL Cancer Institute Research Trust. (Charity Registration No. 299617) The mission of which is to defeat cancer faster by funding innovative research at University College London's Cancer Institute. The focus is on research into difficult to treat cancers and those affecting children and young adults. A worthy cause you will agree. And one worth supporting. Which is why I accepted the challenge

The target fundraising amount was set at £2,500. Which I honestly thought was out of my reach.

I did not realise however that I was about to be offered assistance by a knight in fundraising shining armour! This assistance came from one of our patients who has been known to me for several years due to his willingness (and bravery) to participate in such research. If I can attempt to evoke a mental image, this man is the kind of man who when his name is mentioned, its impact, without fail, has the following response: both the person speaking and the person listening (both people are usually nurses!) put their hands over their heart, furrow their brow and coo in unison, "he is lovvvvvveeeelllllyyyy". His name is Alan. And sadly at the moment he is not feeling very well.

When Alan, despite his health issues, heard I was doing the marathon and raising money for the Cancer Research Institute he offered, in an act I can only describe as incredibly generous and unbelievably self-less, to help me fundraise. The response since we have been working as a team (with his good looks and my ability to put one foot in front of the other!) has been amazing. (It appears the nurses at UCLH aren't the only ones that think Alan is lovely!). To "put a figure on it" for you, in 2 months I raised, with the help of some amazing friends and colleagues, £1,200. In the 3 weeks Alan has been helping me we have raised over £8,000 !!!!

So... friends, family and acquaintances, I run the 2010 London Marathon for Alan - Fighting Myeloma.

Now that the race is over I owe several big thankyou's. And Alan has also insisted I say some on his behalf.

So... From Alan: "Thank you" to his friends, ex work colleagues, and family who have so generously and unstintingly supported the cause; not only with their donations, but with their obviously heartfelt words.

From Me:

I would also like to thank everyone who has donated, I really never expected to reach the original target of £2500. Your support and comments kept me going through the hard, dark and cold weather training.

Thank you also to the Cancer Institute for the opportunity to do the marathon. I have to say it is my greatest achievement to date.

Lastly, and definitely my biggest thank you, goes to Alan.

Alan, it really was hardest thing I have ever done. I'm not sure I would have carried on if I didn’t have your support and a reason to keep running. I can not thank you enough, the honour was all mine. And you were indeed there for me at the end.

Gem

If you would like a brief account of my marathon experience it is written below:

Start line - why am I here…?

Mile 1- this is exciting. Oh my calves are tight.

Mile 2 - this is exciting. My calves are tight. I wish these other runners would get out of the way.

Mile 3 -this is exciting. My calves are tight. I wish these other runners would get out of the way. Ignore your calves Gemma they are not worth thinking about.

Mile 4 - this is exciting. Ignore your calves. I wish these other runners would get out of the way.

Mile 5 - this is exciting. Calves are now being ignored. Why are we walking - great a bottleneck. People I am trying to do a time here!

Mile 6 - this is exciting. I wish these other runners would get out of my way

Mile 7 - this is a bit exciting. I wish these other runners would get out of my way.

Mile 8 - this is a bit exciting. I wish these other runners would get out of my way.

Mile 9 - my left hip hurts. I wish these other runners would get out of my way.

Mile 10 - my left hip and left knee hurts. I wish these other runners would get out of the way. Only 16.2 miles to go.

Mile 11 - my left hip and left knee hurts. I wish there other runners would get out of the way. Only 15.2 miles to go.

Mile 12 - hip and knee still hurting. Runners please get out of my way. Only 14.2 miles to go.

Mile 13 - Woo Hoo running over Tower Bridge. This is amazing!! Half way there! Although hip and knee still hurting. Runners please get out of my way.

Mile 14 - hip and knee still hurting. Runners please get out of my way.

Mile 15 - hip and knee still hurting. Now right knee and right hip joining in the pain party. Great. Runners please get out of my way.

Mile 16 - Gemma you only have 10.2 miles to go. Ignore the pain. Ignore it. Runners, move!

Mile 17 - This is awful.

Mile 18 - This is awful. But finally I have some space to run in.

Mile 19 - This is awful. Did someone blow my knee caps off when I wasn’t looking?! I would really like to stop now.

Mile 20 - 20 miles at 3 hr 3mins. You have 6 miles to go. You can run 6 miles in an hour. Just do it. Everything's hurts.

Mile 21 - Everything hurts. Only 5.2 miles to go.

Mile 22 - Everything really hurts. Only 4.2 miles to go.

Mile 23 - Everything really, really hurts. Only 3.2 miles to go.

Mile 24 - I want to cry. I have never felt this bad. I don’t want to go on. Only 2.2 mile to go.

Mile 25 - I really want to cry now. I feel bad, very, very bad. I cant go on. I need to see someone I know in the crowd but only so I can tell them I don’t want to run anymore. 4hrs has just ticked over.

Mile 26 - I don’t care.

Mile 26.2 - 4hrs and 6 mins. Its over. Its finally over. (I then proceeded to cry uncontrollably for a period of time and I cant really explain why...).

The scary thing is that 2 days later I am starting to think… maybe I could do one next year... I was after all only 8.5 seconds per KM off doing a sub 4hour marathon…! Madness!!

Please feel free to continue donating. It doesn't have to stop here!!

We have just been told we are the highest fundraisers for UCL Cancer Institute Research Trust. The top out of 15. So a BIG thank you to all of YOU who got us there!!!