Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Carys' story:

As all good stories start, we were drinking wine one night when I managed to persuade Claire and Lauren to run the half marathon with me. I last ran the Cardiff Half in 2014 and promised I would never do it again, but all three of us have families that have been affected by cancer so I couldn't say no after convincing Lauren and Claire to take part!

Claire’s story

During the last two years, two members of my family, my dad and my aunty have been treated for cancer at this unit.  Being able to travel to Hereford (20 miles away) instead of the gruelling journey to Cheltenham (65 miles), has made a huge difference to their recovery. 

My dad, Rob, was last year diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy at the Renton Unit, where everybody from the voluntary tea ladies to the receptionists, nurses and doctors were brilliant.  Their patience, kindness and understanding to my dad has made what was devastating news, a lot easier to bear.  Thankfully, he is currently in remission.

My aunty, Sue, was diagnosed with breast cancer and she received radiotherapy, which was every day for three weeks.  She was due to have this at Cheltenham, but she was so grateful that the Radiotherapy unit at Hereford opened the week she was starting her treatment.  Again not having to travel so far aided her recovery.

I am somebody who was not sports minded, travels to work by car and works in an office, I needed to start some form of exercise!  So Carys Bate after a couple of glasses of wine persuaded myself and Lauren Poulton to enter the Cardiff Half Marathon! We've been in training ever since! This is a big challenge for us and our motivation now is to raise as much money as we can to help the Macmillan Renton Unit, so other patients may benefit from their help.

After meeting the fundraiser for the unit, Katie Farmer, we are assured that the money will be used to help the rehabilitation of patients.  This includes holding counselling and wellbeing classes and providing information folders to every patient they see. The folders cost £5 each and can amount to approximately £6,000 a year!  Donations will also go towards extra equipment which will help the nurses within the unit.

Come on girls, we can do it!!!!! :)!

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.