Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I'm planning to do my own sponsored run, to raise as much as I possibly can for my daughter's friend, Joseph Lillywhite. 

About Joseph

Joseph was 5 years old when in January 2013 he was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, after being slightly unwell for a few weeks with a virus. 

Neuroblastoma is a very aggressive childhood cancer. We know that it causes 15% of childhood cancer deaths and that two children are diagnosed every week in the UK. Unfortunately, long term survival for children with high risk neuroblastoma is less than half the average rate for other childhood cancer and relapse rates are high.

Despite Neuroblastoma being “high risk” there are limited trials in the UK for relapse neuroblastoma if treatment is needed. More often than not children and their families are required to raise money for treatment in either Europe or the United States. We believe and hope in our hearts that Joseph will not require such treatment and will be cured of this dreadful disease.

I'm fundraising for the Neuroblastoma Children's Cancer Alliance UK because they will help Joseph if he can’t join the UK trials, or if he needs a clinical treatment that is only available abroad. The charity helps children if they can't join UK trials or if they need a clinical treatment that is only available abroad. To date, they have enabled 21 children to access the potentially life-saving clinical treatment abroad they needed and have funded ground-breaking neuroblastoma research. They also support families and Joseph's family are assured that if they need their help at any stage or in the future they will fully support them.

We are all praying that Joseph continues to be well and that he won’t need any further treatment. Should Joseph not require such treatments any funds raised stay with the Neuroblastoma Children's Cancer Alliance UK to help fund children who do need further treatment. In addition, the funds will aid the research and development of new and improved treatment of this childhood cancer.

About The Run

So now you know about Joseph, I'll let you know a bit more about why I chose this particular challenge. 

I haven't run since I did the cross country at school, so I'm easing myself into it gently, and planning a little 10k route.

Then I'm going to run it barefoot...

It might seem a bit out of the ordinary, I know. I just thought that as Joseph's been through a lot more pain and suffering in his life, than most of us could ever imagine, the least I can do to show some support, is to do something well out of my comfort zone.

Those of you who know me well, know that I've never been a runner, I've always been a mountain biker, and the last time I ran was when I did the cross country run at school, so a 10k run is already out of my comfort zone! That isn't enough though, from my mountain biking, I know that if I train for it, I can do it, so it isn't as much of a challenge. I want to do something that I'm going to find difficult, uncomfortable, and will feel like a real achievement at the finish line.

In comparison with what Joseph has been through, putting myself through a bit of discomfort for one morning is nothing, but it's something that I hope will raise awareness for both neuroblastoma and the Neuroblastoma Children's Cancer Alliance UK, along with raising much needed funding for the treatment of children with this disease.

Please give whatever you can afford, no matter how much, or how little, every penny makes a difference, and is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for all your help!