#13challengesforJohn

As many of you know recently my brother, John, lost his fight with prostate cancer. I was lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time with him towards the end and although there were lots of tears there were also lots of laughs and I will always treasure some great memories from this time.

This time was made so much easier for our family because of the dedication, compassion and professionalism of the team at Roxburghe House Dundee who made sure John’s last few weeks were comfortable, pain free and dignified. The staff there were simply amazing, and I want to give something back to them by raising some funds in John’s memory.

I’ve come up with #13challengesforJohn which will see me trying to complete a “challenge” every month between now and August 28th 2020 (which would have been John’s 60th birthday).

The challenges will all be hard for me but not impossible, and I’m hopeful some of my friends and family will feel able to take part in one or more of them. I haven’t set the challenges in stone as I’d love to hear your suggestions for things I could do.

The challenges will take various forms and won’t necessarily all be physical – I'm looking to do runs, walks, cycle rides, swims and climbs but also give up sugar and alcohol for a time and also maybe try to do some more out there things (BUT I won't be doing a parachute jump I'm not that brave!!!).

About the Beneficiaries

Roxburghe House is a purpose built specialist palliative care unit in Dundee, staffed by a dedicated team of NHS professionals, supported by volunteers, including MacMillian Care nurses. People are admitted to the unit for short periods of time for the management of problems associated with advanced illness. The multi-professional team provide end-of-life care that is supportive and dignified.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men – 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime. Prostate Cancer UK’s top priority is funding research to stop prostate cancer killing men. It invests £millions to find better treatments and better tests that can spot fast-growing cancers early, and which can be used in a screening process to save thousands of lives.

More than 47,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year – that’s 129 men a day

Every 45 minutes one man dies of prostate cancer.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I do hope you will feel able to help me to hit my target.

Jamie