Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page. We (Steve, Jo, Gemma and Trisha) have decided to take part in the Lancaster Half Marathon on 6th November 2011, which for anyone who knows us all, knows what a massive challenge this is going to be. We are raising money for St Anns Hospice as our friend and colleague Jean Cotelo lost her daughter Mandy earlier this year to brain cancer. Below is some words that Jean has wrote for us to tell you a little about Mandy and the wonderful work that St Anns Hospice do. In 1999 Mandy was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 30 years old, with 2 children aged 2 and 5. She went through all the Chemo and Radiotherapy which made her so ill, but she battled on and eventually she was all clear. She went back to work as a ward at Salford Royal Hospital (formally known as Hope Hospital). Everything went back to normal, until one dreadful night in 2009 she had a seizure at work and was rushed to the A & E Department and after all the tests and scans she was diagnosed with Brain Cancer. To have your daughter go through one cancer and survive then to be hit with this, the shock was insurmountable, she went through Chemo again but there was nothing more they could do but keep her drugged up with medication. She went on suffering for 2 years but the day came when she was so poorly she needed day and night care. The last week of her life she suffered immeasurably and on Thursday 2nd June 2011 Mandy died at St Ann’s Hospice aged 41 she had an almost imperceptibly small smile on her face, a truly angelic, lovely moment that will stay with the family forever. St Anne’s Hospice is a truly wonderful caring place. I know first hand as I spent 6 nights there to be with my daughter Mandy, along with my husband, Mandy’s husband and my grandchildren so there was 5 of us staying every night. We virtually took over the place, they gave us blankets every night and every morning brought us tea, coffee and toast even though they were run off their feet they could still find time to look after us. It was a place of laughter, fun and friendly faces; nothing is too much trouble, the Doctors, Nurses, Auxiliary, volunteers they can’t do enough for you. Please donate whatever you can; they are so very grateful for anything. Did you know that it costs £16,000 per day so the specialised staff can provide the highest quality care? It costs £1000 for a bed alone. Thank you for taking the time to read this and good luck to the team!