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Duncan will be taking part in the 10 mile running event on Sunday 26 October to support the Charity which helped his family while his young cousin battled cancer. His cousin was just two years old when he was first diagnosed with cancer in 1993 and was treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The family became the first to stay at CLIC Sargent’s Home from Home in Oxford, which offers free self-catering accommodation so families can stay together while a child is being treated for cancer.
Duncan explains, “My cousin had cancer just about all the way through his life. The impact it had on his parents, myself, and the extended family was massive. Emotionally it was tough on all of us as there is nothing you can do, you just feel utterly helpless.”
Ten years after his cousin was first diagnosed with cancer the disease returned and he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Sadly Duncan’s cousin died in 2006, aged 14.
“With him being so young it also made the family very angry,” says Duncan. “Why, was a question that we asked an awful lot. On the other hand it was very humbling to see and hear him laughing and telling jokes. It made us all be very aware of just how little we have to moan about in life. He is an inspiration to all of us both in life and after death.”
Duncan added: “That’s why I’m taking part in the Great South Run, I want to support CLIC Sargent in any way I can having seen first-hand the incredible work they do supporting families affected by childhood cancer.”
CLIC Sargent provides all-round care and support for children and young people with cancer, and their families. The charity is hoping to raise more than £30,000 from the BUPA Great South Run to fund services like nurses, play specialists, social workers and the seven Homes from Home across the UK run by CLIC Sargent.
“It costs CLIC Sargent approximately £36 per night per family to provide ‘Homes from Home’ facilities and it can cost up to £16,000 to support a child and family through treatment and beyond,” explains Tamara Downes, Running Events Manager for CLIC Sargent. “To continue to provide these vital services to families whose lives have been turned upside down by childhood cancer we rely on the funds raised at events like the BUPA Great South Run.”
Every day 10 families are told their child has cancer. As the UK's leading children's cancer charity, CLIC Sargent is the only organisation to offer them all round care and support. That’s because they are there every step of the way:
During treatment – providing specialist nurses, doctors, play specialists, Homes from Home
In hospital & at home – offering specialist social care and family support in the community – specialist youth services, holidays, grants, helpline
After treatment – helping survivors, supporting those bereaved, research
So please sponsor me now!
