**Thank you, girls!!**

For the 32 girls that joined Ruby & I.

Who wore T-shirts to say that we were 'Running for Ruby'.

For the many people who donated to raising in total over £3k on line, over £300 cash and one of my good friends, Phil Stroudley who raised over £850 for a sponsored swim in Ruby's name, a big-out 'Thank You' for what you did today!!!

Thank you for EVERYONE who gave to making those totals possible.

Thank you for giving Ruby months of inspiration, through her 'down days,' the impetus to carry on and check out her growing total on this site...

But most importantly, for raising money so that kids like Ruby (and indeed adults, and their families and indeed mums, dads, uncles, aunts, grandmas' and grandpas', friends, colleagues the list is endless) have the treatment and indeed hope that will see them through this, at present, a potentially terminal and cruel illness so one day this will not be the sadness and grief it currently is.

Today, we saw inspiration and hope. We saw a wall of heart-felt messages left at the end of the event with hand-written placards for whom each and every runner gave up their time and raised money today in the name of those who they have loved and lost, or who are indeed still fighting cancer. And of course those who are now true survivors in every sense of the word.

My 8 year old daughter, Ruby, her name was among that wall of placards, written by her best friend and by the grace of god is still here today. And better still, took part and ran to the finishing line, suported by her family, friends and people who love her.

Cancer Research has been the main hope over the years that has seen Childhood Cancer, such as Ruby's leukaemia go from a very poor sucess rate for survival, to up there in the 90% chance of sucess. One day, it will be so for every cancer. And that isnt so much of a hope, but a reality if we all help.

Until then, thank you girls for joining us. Until next year xxx

 

Ruby is 8 years old. She will be joining her family and friends and participating in this years' Race For Life. At the beginning of 2011, Ruby was a fit and active 7 year old who enjoyed horse riding, playing on her scooter and running around everywhere with her friends. Over the course of the year she was treated for what was believed to be 6 fractures of several limbs, and she ended up by September 2011 in a wheelchair unable to walk unaided. She was seen by several consultants, doctors and physiotherapists from March 2011 where, after 8 long and painful months she was initially diagnosed with Arthritis. A referal to Bristol Children's hospital in November 2011, she was finally diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. By this time she was a very poorly little girl.

Bristol Children's Hospital along with the support and care of Clic Sergant Nurses and the excellent Consultants and Staff at the Bramble Unit, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital have saved my daughters' life. She is now able to walk again and although she is undergoing Chemotherapy, has a resemblance of her old life back! Ruby is a determined little girl and to give something back and support the other Children who are also suffering with cancer, she has persuaded her friends to join her and join in the Exeter Race for Life. She will of course be walking the course, but this is a massive deal to Ruby, who could not even walk a couple of steps without support before her diagnosis and treatment for Leukaemia began.

Events like Race for Life are vital in funding Cancer Research UK's life-saving work into preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer. By sponsoring her now you can help more people survive cancer.

Gift Aid it!

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.

Every pound you donate really does make a difference - so please sponsor her now!

Many thanks for your support. Together we will beat cancer.