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In 1992, Rachel Baker was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma at the age of two, having exhibited some odd symptoms which confounded a number of doctors during the previous three months.
Having discovered that her disease was at an advanced stage, specialist staff at Barts Hospotal in London immediately placed her on an intensive campaign of chemotherapy. Fifty three blood transfusions, twenty four chemotherapy sessions and the removal of one adrenal gland later, Rachel was pronounced "in remission" and allowed home for the first significant period of time since going into Barts a year earlier.

She continued going from strength to strength, returning to the Rachel of old,  going to ballet and gymnastic classes and even enjoying the odd rollercoaster ride. Within a year of her hospital discharge you would never have guessed what a traumatic time she had been through.

When, four years later, an opportunity came up for Steve, her Father to take up a new job in Singapore, her family were so confident that she had beaten the disease, that they decided to go.

Unfortunately, Rachel suffered a relapse of her cancer within eight weeks of their arrival in Singapore, and although renewed treatment was possible in Singapore, the family decided to return to the UK so that she could once again be treated by some familiar faces at Barts.

One of the downsides to the treatment regimes for Neuroblastoma as they were at the time, was the high failure rate second time around, and so it proved to be in Rachels case. She failed to respond to the chemotherapy, and sadly passed away thirteen months later after a huge personal battle to beat the disease herself.

The Neuroblastoma Society was established by parents of children who have suffered the disease, and, managed entirely by volunteers, lay Trustees and medical specialists, exists to raise funds into the causes and potential treatment of the disease.
As they are a relatively small organisation of just 400 members, fund raising is a big challenge.

This devastating disease took our daughter from us, Jack his big sister and my Mum her much cherished grandaughter. Every penny raised in Rachels name by her Auntie Erica on this half marathon will go towards that cause.The day of the run would have been Rachel’s 19th birthday.

Thank you...from Rachels Dad.