12 years ago I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer and went to see an Ear Nose and Throat consultant in Chester. He told me I had the disease and arranged for me to have my thyroid removed. Then a person I knew told me that they were friends with a head and neck surgeon and that I should speak to him as well (probably the best advice I have ever received). That was when I was introduced to a consultant named John Watkinson. I will cut to the chase at this point. John told me the disease was advanced and he needed to remove my thyroid and do a radical neck dissection to remove all the cancerous nodules. After the operation I was basted with radioiodine to kill off any leftovers. My operation was a success and annually I go for a check up with John to make sure everything is ok.

In 1994 John and another consultant Adrian Drake-Lee (and some celebrities) decided to create a charity dedicated primarily to helping people with head and neck diseases, but especially cancer. Now in its sixteenth year Get A-Head has raised over £4,000,000 and thousands of patients and relatives have benefited from this either in the form of improved hospital equipment, research treatments or supportive care.

For one reason or another I have never raised funds for this charity, although I have done extensive fundraising for cancer research and other causes in the past 12 years. I think that maybe I thought raising money for Get A-Head was self indulgent and maybe I didn’t want reminding of what I went through other than my yearly checkups. Now a little older and a lot wiser, I have decided to put this right and hopefully you will support me running this half marathon and a very very very worthwhile cause.

If the people involved didn’t do what they do, then I wouldn’t be here today. Please give generously - many thanks x

http://www.getahead.org.uk/index.htm