Hello,

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to thank you so much for supporting our IronMan efforts as well as Hannah Morris, Louise & family. We are delighted to inform you that thanks to your generous support we greatly exceeded our initial targets and managed to raise an amazing £9,700. This will make a real difference to Hannah & the Morris’ and they are all extremely grateful. I have included a full update on Hannah at the end, but most importantly I can confirm she is on the mend and has now finished her treatment with no detectable signs of cancer left in her body!!

In more good news, against all the odds I can confirm Julian, Ben, Andy & I all also successfully completed the 2.2m swim/ 112m bike and marathon well within the cut-off times. It was not all plain sailing however, with a few of us being struck down by various indigestion issues, and my spoke snapping leading to my bike wheel buckling. While the ensuing 25 min wait for the mechanic gave my legs some much needed restbite, the solution of giving me a new wheel which was incompatible with my bike gears was less welcome. On legs that were by then seizing up I had to complete the remaining 65miles of the bike course without being able to change gear (even the slightest incline felt like Alpe D’Huez)…suffice to say for me at least, never again!

Results:

1. Julian Beazley (11h 11:50) – notably a 5h40 bike

2. Andy Hatzis (11h 19.47) – notably a 1h03 swim

3. Ben Laidlaw (12h 44.06) – notably a 5h56 bike

4. Phil Johnson (13h 30:00) – notably a 4h30 marathon

Update from Lou:

“Hannah has been on quite a journey since November last year. 14 in patient Chemo sessions lasting between 3 and 6 days on fortnightly basis in London with quite a few unscheduled hospital stays to Brighton in between with low immune system as viruses are easily picked up, odd side effects early on etc. Proton Therapy in Essen, Germany for 6 weeks involved fasting for general anaesthetic each day for this treatment - 28 times in total. Also 2 Chemo sessions in Essen and towards the end she developed rather nasty radiation burns to her skin which delayed treatment for a few extra days.

Final 3 chemotherapies were back in London and the MRI results that followed from all the treatment were amazing - the tumour in and around her left collar bone had shrunk as much as they had hoped and her operation on Monday 6th August at Stanmore to remove the (whole) bone went extremely well. Histology report showing total necrosis (nasty cells obliterated!) We were home on the Thursday 9th August evening with Hannah in a sling for two weeks but healing well. Last week she had her Hickman line (for chemo meds) removed and at the weekend she was over the moon to be able to go swimming again !! No more treatment! Just check-ups every couple of months. Mobility is really good in her shoulder having some physio to stay on top of this.

As of today, her hair is really starting to grow back - like a beautiful pixie! She has the enthusiasm of a typical 5 year old to be just getting on with things - something that has really been her outlook through the whole time in the UK and Germany. Her brothers and sister too have managed so so well too. We are starting to think about getting some much-needed time away together.

It’s very much Onwards and Upwards from here”.