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Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.   9 months ago my wife's first cousin, Nicki Blake, tragically lost her battle with pancreatic cancer, aged just 33.  She left behind her husband, Dan, and their 3-year-old son, Joshua.   On the 25th September I will be running a half marathon through the streets of Greenwich in aid of Nicki's Smile – a fund set up by Dan in her memory.   The following text gives you some background into the fund and its aims.  I really hope you can support me in helping raise vital funds for this important cause.   The Story   Nicki’s Smile was set up in memory of Nicki Blake who lost her battle with Pancreatic Cancer on the 11th November 2010, aged just 33, leaving behind her devoted husband Dan and three year old son, Joshua.   Nicki’s beautiful personality and smile were taken from her family and friends too early. She never complained about her illness and went about her everyday life as a wife, mother to Joshua and devoted primary school teacher.   Twenty months earlier Nicki was diagnosed with an advanced form of Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Cancer. Tragically the cancer had already spread from the pancreas to her liver and bones and she was therefore inoperable. She bravely fought the illness, enduring numerous cycles of chemotherapy, endoscopies and targeted radionuclide therapy under the specialist multi-disciplinary team at the Royal Free Hospital.   Just over a year before she was diagnosed, Nicki complained of such severe back and abdominal pain that she went to A&E. Unfortunately potential warning signs for cancer growth in the pancreas were not picked up and she was sent home with anti-inflammatory medication.   With improved awareness of how to identify symptoms, doctors could have requested an ultrasound/abdominal CT. This would almost certainly have shown a tumour in the head of her pancreas that would have more than likely been suitable for surgery. Nicki would still be alive today.   The Facts   Pancreatic Cancer research is very much under-funded despite the fact that it is the 5th most common cause of cancer deaths in Europe and the USA.   In the UK: > over 7,600 people are diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer every year > fewer than 20% survive more than one year > less than 3% survive more than five years.   Our Vision and Aim   Our Vision is to be a catalyst for improving life expectancy and survival rates for patients with Pancreatic Cancer.   Our Aim is to fund research into understanding how symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer can be more accurately identified, thereby aiding early diagnosis.   Nicki’s Smile is determined to raise significant sums through fundraising campaigns to make a real difference and ensure that, in the future, survival statistics of Pancreatic Cancer are improved. Research and early diagnosis initiatives can make this a reality.   If Nicki’s Smile makes a difference to even one person, then her death would not have been in vain. Help us raise vital funds to support specific initiatives aiding research and early diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer and give it the higher priority it desperately needs.   Nicki’s Smile is a fund hosted by Pancreatic Cancer UK who will ring-fence all monies raised to support our Vision and Aim.   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.

Nike Run to the Beat for Nicki's Smile

Nike Run to the Beat for Nicki's Smile

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