Thanks for visiting my JustGiving page. This September, I’m taking on Shine, the marathon night walk (in my case a  casual jog, because after all  walking is lame, but realistically I won't be able to train for a run with a 4 month old) , to help Cancer Research UK fund their life-saving  research in Skin Cancers.  Each year Cancer Research UK’s scientists get closer to beating cancer, and they’ve helped double survival rates in the last 40 years. But on a more personal note, their joint research with US drug company, Merck, has developed the immunotherapy treatment I'm now receiving, which has in a few cases, successfully cured melanoma---yes that's right CURED it! 

For those of you that don't know me at all or know me, but didn't know this (eg having the Big 'C') about me,  I'll make this brief so as to not bore you . Last October, at 33 weeks pregnant and at the ripe ol' age of 31,  I was diagnosed with stage 2A melanoma after a birthmark I had all my life mysteriously became a mole   Fast forward four months to April this year, following a surgery and the  birth of the little rascal we call Julian, another mole was found. Subsequent scans showed it had spread to my bones- upstaging me to Stage 4. Since then, even with treatment, there has been spread to my liver, lungs, brain and areas of muscle tissue. 

Although survival statistics are not on my side, this new immunotherapy therapy treatment that I've just started is!  Had I been diagnosed five years ago, I would've been treated with radiation and chemo, the latter of which has now been proven to be not effective on Melanoma. So it is only through research, a good chunk of which is funded by private donations , that we have immunotherapy and I have a fighting chance. 

I will be walking for me,  for a dear friend and second mother that left us all too soon, and for everyother person affected in some way by this disease that doesn't discriminate between age, health, race or gender. I hope that the little I raise will in some way help develop treatments, such as mine, that will eventually lead to a cure! 

I'll be keeping everyone updated on my training progress in the lead up to September , including my recent 1km of walking lunges whilst pushing the stroller (yes, I looked like a mad woman.) 

In the meantime you can follow my journey at:

http://alizaross1.wix.com/onceuponamole

It's been a tough journey, with I know an even bumpier road ahead, but being able to do this walk almost one year on from my initial diagnosis means life doesn't stop when you become a "C" patient. 

T&Cs of Gift Aid:

If you are a UK taxpayer, please remember to tick the Gift Aid box when donating as this will increase your donation by at least 25% at no cost to you.www.shinewalk.org