Well I did it! 

It wasn’t fast. It wasn’t pretty but I completed the 26.2  miles and some. Thank you to my family, friends and Paul Popham  Running Club for the support. 

Keeping it real, it  really was so important for me as I counted down each mile to remind myself why I was doing this. If it wasn’t for Paul’s cancers I wouldn’t have turned to Maggie’s. But I did and they were there for me  

Running the marathon was tough but not as tough as the way your life changes when cancer joins your family .  

Enough.

Thank you all for your support  of my fundraising  this effort will come to a close very soon  -  to you all 🧡🧡🧡

Time for an update: August 2021.

I’m still on that mission to run the London Marathon to raise money for Maggie’s in Swansea.

Life for most has been a roller coaster of challenges beyond our imagination and for those who live with Cancer our Covid world has hit hard.  I need no words to tell you.

The marathon is now October 3rd 2021.I am training hard to get there and  complete it , but take nothing for granted. If you are reading and have already donated many many thanks .  

Read on if you need reminding why I’m doing the 26.2 miles . 

It’s been a year since I updated; pre Covid.  

************************************************************

Update August 2020

Thank you to everyone for the love, support, sponsorship and donations I have received this past year or so for Maggie’s Swansea.

It was a bit of a start stop journey and in the time since I first learnt I had a charity place for April 2020 our world changed.

It wasn’t the streets of London but the rain and wind bashed coastal path of The Gower with special friends and family for company that I finally completed the 26.2 miles ( and a bit more it turned out)  of what became known as:

             The 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon

                               -Your Race Your Way - 

 The work  of Maggie’s is more important than ever and their support to so many people affected by cancer cannot be overstated. Simply, Maggie’s makes living possible.

The reason why I am raising money hasn’t changed. For those who don’t know the back story to my reasons for doing this challenge I’ll be brief. I found Maggie’s one stormy day after my husband had been diagnosed with cancer for the second time. I’m still not sure how Paul got through those dark dark days. It had been so hard the first time, but the tumour and his kidney were removed successfully.  The second diagnosis hit harder and was even more scary.  A different cancer, unrelated to the first. This time in the lungs-inoperable.  Chemo and radiotherapy was the way forward so putting our lives into the hands of the medics the treatment began.  Paul somehow held himself together but as each difficult day went by I fell apart. Thankfully Maggie’s was there for me.  I just turned up on their door with no appointment. I was met by the kindest smile and offer of a cup of coffee and I cried - the smiling understanding face listened. I visited again, drank coffee and poured my heart out.  More coffee - more listening followed by the offer of practical support for me; if I wanted it.  I didn’t even have cancer yet Maggie’s held me together and together we got through Paul's round two of cancer hell. 

I don’t know exactly how many people walk through the door of Maggie’s each week, but I do know for everyone of them it makes a difference The work done by their team of experts and volunteers is only possible with the support of others’ generosity.

In April with my PPRC (Paul Popham Running Club) family I went to watch the London marathon and saw the orange vests of the Maggie’s runners go past. For them my cheer was loudest. My hope and determination to be one of those runners in 2020 was ignited.  Running the London Marathon and raising funds for Maggie’s is my way of saying a huge, huge thank you to them for the support I have received personally. Without my weekly visits to the Swansea Maggie’s Centre through the dark months of last winter I would have lost my way. 

Together Paul and I have somehow managed to carry on living. Family first, the kids and our wonderful 9 grandchildren light up our lives.  Paul fishes, I run. He achieved a PB this year- landing the biggest fish of a lifetime; I couldn’t have been prouder or happier for him, and I was there to see it (at 5.30 in the morning!) We can’t escape the impact of Paul’s double cancer diagnosis but Maggie’s has made it possible for us both in our different ways to keep living and chasing the dream- not bad for a couple of 60 year olds. Simply, Maggie’s helped me to not just live but love life too, and I know Maggie’s support countless people just like me and Paul too.

CJ’s Marathon for Maggie’s 

CJ x

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.