Cameron Marling was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia in April of 2015. Cam was a healthy, strong 24 year old - you can imagine hearing the words cancer and leukaemia was utterly earth shattering for him and all of us in his life.  His initial prognosis was good, outside of the enormity of dealing with a lifelong chronic condition. However, we later found out that he would need a stem cell transplant and some of the most grueling treatment a person can endure. After what was certainly a hard fought battle from him - we said goodbye to Cam on March 7^th 2016. 

From beginning to end, Cams journey was an exhausting, emotional whirlwind, filled with tears, laughter and everything in between. More than 5 years on and it seems like yesterday – and yet also inconceivable to think he hasn't been here for that long. He was such a wholehearted genuine soul. He brought joy and a lighthearted spirit to everyone around him. An amazing son, brother, grandson, uncle, partner, friend and teammate - he was our gentle, funny giant and we feel his absence everyday. 

Cam's life and the last five years have taught me how vulnerable we can be as humans, but I have also seen that we are more capable than we know, and together have a tremendous level of strength. I don't think time has healed this - as people always say, but I do feel an incredible amount of love in my life and with those people we still find ways to celebrate Cam's life and smile at the end of the each day. 

This gruesome disease does not discriminate and it grips everyone surrounding it, but the work Blood Cancer UK does gives people a reason to smile again. They bring people together and foster communities of support, they fund research for more treatment options and kinder cures, they give people a sense of control in an uncontrollable situation - they do everything they can to improve the lives of people affected by blood cancer and give them hope.

We can’t help that thousands of people around the world are diagnosed with blood cancer each year, but we can give them the opportunity to rewrite the narrative of this disease.

After more than three years of attempting to run this bloody marathon, I will finally (hopefully) be making what I can of of my body as I throw myself across the finish line on October 3rd. Just days before what would have been the kids 31st birthday - hope he enjoys it more than my body does, it will be a celebration to remember :) 

Thanks, you're the best. 

Grace x