Running a marathon is something I’d always thought of doing, to test myself and push myself to extremes, just to see if I had it in me. But it has become much more than that. Not just a physical challenge but an emotional one too.

 As most of you will know, last year Vanessa’s dad, Ian, passed away after a 19 month battle against oesophagus cancer. I only knew Ian for 2 years but I quickly became very fond of him. He was a very gentle, caring and funny man who would do anything for anybody and doted on his wife Jenny, his two daughters, Vanessa and Melanie, and his grandchildren, Joshua, Freya, Lucy and Jack. He was so very proud of all of them as they were of him. His passing was a devastating loss to all who knew him and has left a massive hole in our lives.

 

With the blessings of Vanessa and her family I feel very privileged and honoured to be running in aid of OPA (Oesophageal Patients Association) in Ian’s memory. You can read more about what the charity do on this page but, in short they provide support and advice to patients, their family and carers. Their work is invaluable and I know that Ian and his family took a great deal of comfort from the support that they received. The charity is not well known and receive no government funding so rely solely on donations such as these and through charitable trusts. Any amount you can spare, no matter how small, will help and, I know, will be hugely appreciated by Ian’s family.

 

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So please dig deep and donate now.