Team Dopez
Team Dopez London Marathon 2015 page
Fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support
Story
We can do hard things.
In 2013 we stood on the start line for our first London Marathon full of hope, pride, trepidation and fear. It had been a long road to get there, I had been diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma several years before and was running out of treatment options, running a marathon mid chemo was pretty much universally regarded as madness by everyone except (and probably including some of) those who I was closest to.
I had met Marc the previous September at the Great North Run, his Facebook group 'Running the World' had been a massive source of support to me and was hugely instrumental in leading me to London. A short while later Marc decided to take a charity place for Macmillan Cancer Support and run with me. He was living back home in Newcastle working as a full time carer to his mum who suffered from poor health with many conditions including Multiple Sclerosis. Marc's dad had died a few years back after a battle with a brain tumour. We both had our own scores to settle and our own demons to put to rest and this seemed a positive way of approaching that aim. After a tough but incredible first marathon we immediately signed up with Macmillan for a second. Nothing went to plan. Plagued with terrible weather throughout training and struggling with illness and injuries we found it so much harder. Then a desperate tragedy... a week before London 2014 on April 7th Marc's beloved mum Audrey died suddenly. Utter devastation. Marc was heartbroken. We decided not to run.
In a last minute act of total selflessness and bravery Marc changed his mind, he wanted to honour the hard work and massive challenges we had overcome, honour the commitment he'd made to those who had sponsored us and to Macmillan but above all he wanted to pay tribute to his Mum and run it for her.
It was a dreadfully difficult run, an extremely hot day (after having trained in freezing conditions) and we were emotionally and physically drastically unprepared. Nonetheless we did it and Marc crossed the finish line holding his mums photo to his heart. Marc placed that photo into his mum's coffin for her to take into the next life having wrote upon it 'You were with me every step of the way'.
The past year was tough. My treatment stepped up massively and left me incredibly poorly. I developed an irreversible heart condition and was plagued with constant serious infections which resulted in several operations. Chemo floored me for around 6 months during which I could often barely get out of bed never mind go for a run.
Marc's entire life was turned upside down. The loss of his mum and his role in life left a huge gaping chasm that he had to fill. He suddenly had to find a job, no easy feat when you've been a carer for a number of years. He found himself caught between working in Newcastle and caring for me and taking over the parental role with Cleo at weekends in Liverpool. Throughout this he had to deal with the devastating grief of the loss of his mum.
2014 had been quite a year, more than enough for either of us.
So why are we doing London Marathon for a third time after all that?
Because...We can do hard things.
It's a poster that I saw during the worst of my treatment and it rang true, especially for us.
Because despite everything that life has thrown at us we are still here, still standing, still smiling. We didn't break, we didn't give up.
Because we want to pay tribute to you, every one of you who has supported us, sponsored us, loved us, sent us messages, waved at us on a run and carried us through the hard times. Our friends, loved ones, those we have lost. And Cleo. This one is for you.
Because we believe that the human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it. Macmillan always believed in us, supported us, said we could do it and did everything they could to help us make it happen. Rob Bason, Lisa Wild (and Sue Blunt) and all at Macmillan, this one is for you.
A lot has happened, there has been pain, loss, sadness and grief. There's also been friendship, laughter, hope and an engagement ring.
This run isn't about pace or time or competition to us. This is a victory lap for us, all of you and for Macmillan. Because of us, because of all of you and because of Macmillan, together we have proved...
We can do hard things.
We love you xxx
Nicky Lopez
In 2013 we stood on the start line for our first London Marathon full of hope, pride, trepidation and fear. It had been a long road to get there, I had been diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma several years before and was running out of treatment options, running a marathon mid chemo was pretty much universally regarded as madness by everyone except (and probably including some of) those who I was closest to.
I had met Marc the previous September at the Great North Run, his Facebook group 'Running the World' had been a massive source of support to me and was hugely instrumental in leading me to London. A short while later Marc decided to take a charity place for Macmillan Cancer Support and run with me. He was living back home in Newcastle working as a full time carer to his mum who suffered from poor health with many conditions including Multiple Sclerosis. Marc's dad had died a few years back after a battle with a brain tumour. We both had our own scores to settle and our own demons to put to rest and this seemed a positive way of approaching that aim. After a tough but incredible first marathon we immediately signed up with Macmillan for a second. Nothing went to plan. Plagued with terrible weather throughout training and struggling with illness and injuries we found it so much harder. Then a desperate tragedy... a week before London 2014 on April 7th Marc's beloved mum Audrey died suddenly. Utter devastation. Marc was heartbroken. We decided not to run.
In a last minute act of total selflessness and bravery Marc changed his mind, he wanted to honour the hard work and massive challenges we had overcome, honour the commitment he'd made to those who had sponsored us and to Macmillan but above all he wanted to pay tribute to his Mum and run it for her.
It was a dreadfully difficult run, an extremely hot day (after having trained in freezing conditions) and we were emotionally and physically drastically unprepared. Nonetheless we did it and Marc crossed the finish line holding his mums photo to his heart. Marc placed that photo into his mum's coffin for her to take into the next life having wrote upon it 'You were with me every step of the way'.
The past year was tough. My treatment stepped up massively and left me incredibly poorly. I developed an irreversible heart condition and was plagued with constant serious infections which resulted in several operations. Chemo floored me for around 6 months during which I could often barely get out of bed never mind go for a run.
Marc's entire life was turned upside down. The loss of his mum and his role in life left a huge gaping chasm that he had to fill. He suddenly had to find a job, no easy feat when you've been a carer for a number of years. He found himself caught between working in Newcastle and caring for me and taking over the parental role with Cleo at weekends in Liverpool. Throughout this he had to deal with the devastating grief of the loss of his mum.
2014 had been quite a year, more than enough for either of us.
So why are we doing London Marathon for a third time after all that?
Because...We can do hard things.
It's a poster that I saw during the worst of my treatment and it rang true, especially for us.
Because despite everything that life has thrown at us we are still here, still standing, still smiling. We didn't break, we didn't give up.
Because we want to pay tribute to you, every one of you who has supported us, sponsored us, loved us, sent us messages, waved at us on a run and carried us through the hard times. Our friends, loved ones, those we have lost. And Cleo. This one is for you.
Because we believe that the human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it. Macmillan always believed in us, supported us, said we could do it and did everything they could to help us make it happen. Rob Bason, Lisa Wild (and Sue Blunt) and all at Macmillan, this one is for you.
A lot has happened, there has been pain, loss, sadness and grief. There's also been friendship, laughter, hope and an engagement ring.
This run isn't about pace or time or competition to us. This is a victory lap for us, all of you and for Macmillan. Because of us, because of all of you and because of Macmillan, together we have proved...
We can do hard things.
We love you xxx
Nicky Lopez