On the 15th July (next month!!!) I will be facing the biggest challenge I have ever faced! the ULTIMATE triathlon!!! Ironman UK consists of a 2.4 mile open water swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a marathon! all in one day!!!

I have been training for this event since December 2017 and it has took a lot of hard work and loads of determination!

I have thought for some time that this event is worthy of asking people for sponsorship which would be donated to a charity of my choice, but I couldn't decide who to support with there being so many amazing charities out there! I really wanted to support something more local to me and maybe a smaller charity that may sometimes be overlooked.

That's when Scott and Laurens story/battle came to light and I literally couldn't think of any better cause to donate to!

Scott's story is below:

Where do we start. On the morning of the 8th March 2018 our lives changed forever. Scott went to work that morning somewhat disorientated, put down to stress as he was under immense pressure in his job as a process manager. The first time in 8 years i had heard scott ever say he didn't want to go to work. He has worked in his current employment for 12 years and never had a day off sick. The events that day are still raw. Scott went to work unbeknown to anyone rambling numbers and staff thought he sounded drunk. He felt immense pressure in his brain and walked away from the team to a locker room where, alone, scott suffered at least one seizure knocking him out and banging his head in the meantime which resulted in a tremendous loss of blood. Scott was then taken by car to set off to hospital where he suffered a major seizure and loss of consciousness - resulting in the car being pulled over and ambulance being called. He didn't know who anyone was, when i got the worst call of my life at work i arrived to scott and he didn't know who i was and was suffering and agitated. Eventually the ambulance arrived and he was taken to a n e at Oldham where a medical doctor asked me his medical history. I explained he'd been to the doctor alot over the past 2 years for various things and had told them how unwell and fatigued he had been but he had been told he was just under 'work related stress' and failed by these doctors.. i also explained he had melanoma of the neck removed many years ago. 12 years ago in fact. What came next was the most horrendous news. The doctor sent him for a brain scan and returned soon after and said im sorry its bad news. She explained there was a high possiblity his melanoma cancer was back and in his brain as she had found 2 tumours in there. The day after he was sent for a CT scan which further told us it was metastatic cancer and in his liver and lung and would not be curable.. We were then left to go home and process this news, exactly the week before our little girls 3rd birthday. Since then it has been a whirl wind of medications, appointments and research! Scott was left weeks before any help from the hospital except a liver biopsy which confirmed his cancer was his original cancer and its had spread in to his brain, lung and liver. He finally started a treatment 5 whole weeks after diagnosis at the Christies in manchester. With 3 children and a family to love and care for this was hard for us both to 'continue as normal' Scott is an amazing man. He gives, gives, gives and its time to give him back. He dotes on his children. Alex, Jimmy and his little girl Emmie. He is our whole world! The treatment scott recieves is a palliative targeted therapy - and will stop working. But we are not giving up hope.. I continually research in the hope of finding more help. Alternative therapies are somewhat expensive and although we have had a little financial help from family and used all our own savings as time progresses we need help along the way.. Our first goal is to have a kangen water filter fitted which gives the most pureified and alkalized water to his body in turn helps his immune system and the ph levels in his body maximise as cancer is thought not to be able to survive in an alkaline environment.. yet at 3,000 alone these don't come cheap. Scott has shown, as usual, strength, love and bravery for us all. But worries are never far from his mind. We did not have any illness insurance due to Scott having fought cancer once before. He has listened to my orders as usual :) in his battle against the c word and follows a strict organic and alkaline diet but this is also very costly It has taken a lot to swallow some pride and put this out there and i thankyou for reading and helping. Love Lauren xxx