Many will know of the half marathon I completed in 2017 in memory of my amazing Dad, this one is no different. For anyone unaware I sadly lost my Dad in 2014 to pancreatic cancer. The 2 months we had with him after the diagnosis were the hardest and most soul destroying months of my life, watching and slowly losing the most fearless and loving person I have and will ever know. He taught and showed me bravery in ways I have never experienced, never grumbling or complaining about everything that was happening to him. Macmillan supported all of us through those hard months and the waves of grief experienced after he had gone and were always only a phone call away. 

Instead of just stating how amazing Macmillan are I wanted to give an example of just one of the many supportive things they did for us. On Christmas eve, almost 2 months after Dad's diagnosis, he woke up and was unable to get out of bed. I distinctively remember it being a 'normal' day with Mum still getting ready for work however Dad just wasn't getting out of bed. Mum sat on the edge of their bed next to Dad and decided to call our Macmillan nurse; Annette. Within an hour Annette was at our house and upstairs with Mum and Dad asking him what was wrong etc. After around half an hour Mum and Annette came downstairs and Annette proceeded to tell me how Dad had gone downhill quickly and things weren't looking as good as we hoped. Being 14 it was a lot to suddenly take in however the way Annette delivered the news and comforted me afterwards made me feel so safe and not as scared as I potentially would've been. I then went upstairs and just chatted to Dad. We knew that morning that once Dad got downstairs he wouldn't be strong enough to go back up them so by the evening Annette had arranged to get a hospital bed delivered and put together for us in our living room. It was all so calm and organised efficiently so Dad was comfortable in bed within a few hours. We lost him 4 days later and even though those days were heartbreaking we all had the comfort knowing Dad was comfortable. 

Lastly an acknowledgement to my Mum, who was my Dad's best friend and soul mate who managed to work, look after him and was/is an absolute trooper who never grumbles about raising me by herself whilst having a permanent hole in her heart. I love you Mum and you really are my best pal. 

Thanks for supporting my fundraising. Macmillan Cancer Support is here to help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can, providing physical, financial and emotional support. So whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right right there with you.Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them 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.