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Earlier this year a dear friend of mine and brain child of this whole operation, Pippa Gray, decided that after many decades of eschewing exercise it was time we embraced all things lycra/sweatband related and got some friends together and did a charity run in memory of my lovely mum, Chris Bigham. Great idea I thought, despite being a total running rookie with a questionable running gait! Recruitment began and then training swiftly followed, only not for Pippa, she and Ed are now expecting their first baby, I'm thrilled to say and so she is unable to run with us. What some people will do to get out of donning a lurid t-shirt and going puce in public! I'm assured she is with us all the way, in spirit! The run will take place on 30 November 2013, in Battersea Park, London.

So back to Chris. As some of you will know, I lost my mum in January this year after a courageous battle against Hodgkin's Lymphoma and latterly, acute pneumonitis. Needless to say we have been devastated by our loss. Life has changed for our family and not for the better. We feel very cheated and still unable to comprehend that she is no longer a part of our everyday lives. She was a very vibrant lady, a wonderful wife, mother, mother in law, granny and friend who always gave 100% to all her commitments. I could wax lyrical about her so much more but put simply, she was one of the greats and I couldn't have wished for a more lovely mum...

Throughout her life she gave a huge amount of her time to help raise funds for various charitable causes and so it only seems right that I try and live up to her legacy, in a very small way, by doing this run in her memory. I am so very grateful to a wonderful bunch of girlfriends who, without exception, took up the 10K run gauntlet without hesitation. Their kindness and unswerving support back in January and to this day, has been unbelievable and I am so thrilled to be running (well, staggering, in my case!) with them in November. They are: Shona Moth, Sara Pepper, Louise Furber, Kellyann Walsingham, Tessa Wilson, Elaine Barker, Jacqui Williams, Philippa Boag Sharland, Kathryn Wares, Emma Wares and Arlene Game. 

So it is my fervent hope that with your support, the girls and I can raise some funds and dare I say it, reach our target of £10,000.00 for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, an amazing charity dedicated to finding causes, improving diagnosis and treatments for all blood cancer patients. Rest assured that whatever you are able to donate will be much appreciated.

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. Please look out for the Gift Aid option  when you donate. Gift Aid is a great way for charities to increase the value of monetary gifts from UK taxpayers by claiming back the basic rate tax paid by the donor on the donation. It can increase the value of donations by a quarter at no extra cost to the donor.

Thank you very much and wish us luck!

Vanessa and the girls x