My story

Having completed the New York and Paris marathons I was not sure  that I wanted to put myself through another 26 miles. But this year there have been two major things occur in our lives firstly we lost a very close friend Kevin Roper to cancer and my sister Caroline was diagnosed with Breast Cancer for the second time. So I have decided to have one more go and have entered the London Marathon in April running for the Breakthough Breast Cancer charity www.breakthrough.org.uk  to raise as much money to try and help find a cure for this terrible disease.

Kevin who was 55 passed away in Sept 2010 having fought a brave battle against cancer for 12 months, the positivity and dignity in the way that he tried to fight the disease was inspirational. He leaves behind a loving wife Debra and two sons Colin and Craig who will be there to cheer me on.

I will let my sister tell her storey..........

“Hi, I’m Caroline, Guy’s sister!  Ten years ago this July I was diagnosed with aggressive grade three breast cancer (young people tend to get more aggressive cancer), after finding a pea size lump in my left breast.  With two children aged six and four at the time, I underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and finally reconstruction over a period of nine months.  I was fortunate enough that I found the lump early, and that the cancer had not spread to my lymphnodes which was amazing considering the aggressiveness of the cancer!  I was supported by so many fantastic people working with cancer, and I myself did the moonwalk six months after being diagnosed to give something back to society!  Our Mother, Jean had also suffered breast cancer about 20 years ago; a lumpectomy and is still alive today to tell the tale, aged??!

 

Turning the clock forward to July 2010, at my ten year check up - after five years you are supposed to be at the same risk of getting breast cancer as the ‘one in three’ average person - a small tumour in my right breast was found following a mammogram and ultra-sound.  This was was biopsied and the awful diagnosis came back that there were cancer cells in it.  I guess I was just unlucky to get breast cancer twice, as this time round it was a completely different breast cancer and not linked to that of ten years ago; much less aggressive thankfully!  With my boys now aged sixteen and twelve, I had my second mastectomy combined with reconstruction (done separately previously) followed by radiotherapy.  Due to it being caught early, it had not spread to the lymphnodes which bodes well for secondaries!

 

Just as before, I have had fantastic support from my breast surgeons and nurses, oncologist, the radiographers at Mount Vernon and my plastic surgeon, all of whom are dedicated to their jobs, plus this time round as they are that much older – my kids!  I have also had the benefit through all this turmoil of my loving and supportive partner who has never ever stopped keeping me positive and focused.  Therefore to help people in my position but who are perhaps less fortunate, please give generously to my brother Guy’s charity of choice; Breakthrough Breast Cancer as it really can touch all our hearts!”

 Caroline

So I have started the 4 months of training and as I get up early in the morning in the cold wet weather I will use Kevin and Caroline as my motivation for keeping going.

So if you can find a way to donate anything to this important cause we need to find a way of stopping this dreadfull disease.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

Thanks Guy

My gallery 3

My Teams

My company

My charity

Breakthrough Breast Cancer

Breakthrough Breast Cancer

Charity Registration No. England & Wales No.1062636 Scotland No. SC039058

Breakthrough Breast Cancer is a pioneering charity dedicated to the prevention, treatment and ultimate eradication of breast cancer. We believe passionately that this disease can be beaten. By fighting on three fronts – research, campaigning and education – we are determined to save and change lives by removing the fear of breast cancer for good.

Donations 154

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Good luck to you Guy, Kevin would be proud!

Donation by Robin Neal on 29/03/11

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Thanks for running to help my good friends Caroline, Carol and Ann Marie. Good luck! xx

Donation by Elaine Douthwaite on 29/03/11

£30.00

+ £8.46 Gift Aid

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Good luck Guy

Donation by Angela Ward on 28/03/11

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

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Good Luck Guy from Russell's sister

Donation by Teresa Perks on 28/03/11

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

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Donation by Richard Lawrence on 28/03/11

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

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I worked for Kevin while at InSystems in Toronto. He was a 1 in a million. Guy, thanks for keeping Kevin's memory alive with a great cause.

Donation by Andy Amalfitano on 28/03/11

£150.00

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Donation by Nevine El-Warraky on 25/03/11

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

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Hope it goes well Guy :) x

Donation by Lindsay Goddard on 25/03/11

£30.00

+ £8.46 Gift Aid

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Good luck Guy - a great cause and a great total!

Donation by Gareth Burcher on 24/03/11

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

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Guy, Good luck with such a wonderful cause and event. I guess I owe you a pint after the race.

Donation by Carlos Navarro on 23/03/11

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Guy. Kevin would be very proud of you. Both Craig and I are extremely grateful for your dedication to Kevin. Best of Luck!!

Donation by Angela Roper on 22/03/11

£100.00

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Good luck Guy. And I'll buy you drink next time I see you!

Donation by Graham Peacop on 21/03/11

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

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Good luck Dad, you're running for a very good cause, proud of you. Love EJ

Donation by Emily-Jayne Harris on 21/03/11

£15.00

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Hi Guy, keep up the great work. Good luck from Les & Jayne

Donation by Les Moss on 21/03/11

£100.00

+ £28.21 Gift Aid

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Guy: Kevin was one of my best friends in our college fraternity. My sister is also fighting breast cancer. Best of luck on your run.

Donation by Kirk Neiswander on 19/03/11

£50.00

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Guy, proud to donate to such a worthy cause on behalf of Kevin and your sister.. will be looking out for you, can you wave when you reach 18 miles,

Donation by David Ellis on 19/03/11

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

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What a great cause. Thank you and best of luck.

Donation by Pat & Margaret Mohrman on 16/03/11

£25.00

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Watch out for the Belisha Beacon about 1 mile in as you make the turn from Shooters Hill Rd. Someone always hit it. Best of luck

Donation by Allan Gaan on 16/03/11

£50.00

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Donation by Fay Wells on 15/03/11

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

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Good luck Guy on behalf of Reg and Monica Mason xxx

Donation by Monica Mason on 13/03/11

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

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Well done Guy, bully for you for doing it! Lots of Love Mum xxxxxx

Donation by Jean Harris on 13/03/11

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

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From a cake sale at school good luck dad xx

Donation by EJ on 12/03/11

£30.00

+ £8.46 Gift Aid

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In memory of Alice Coombs Who battled breast cancer

Donation by Lulu & Guy on 12/03/11

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

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Kevin was a top bloke and this is a well worthy cause. Good on you, Guy.

Donation by Peter Dinham on 10/03/11

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

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Guy - at your age - could be "risky"? ; ) Joking aside - this is a brilliant cause and I wish you all the very best of luck, Guy.

Donation by Rob Cottingham on 10/03/11

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations$11,044.56
  • Offline donations$0.00
  • Text donations$0.00
  • Total raised$11,044.56
  • Gift Aid$1,331.73

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.