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On 16th November 2017 our world was turned upside down when my happy, handsome, quietly confident, sporty and seemingly healthy 15 year old son, Edward, was diagnosed with cancer.  This was after a speedy referral from his GP Dr Chaplin-Rogers, which we are eternally grateful for.

Edward has a rare cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and is a type of soft tissue sarcoma.  Fewer than 60 children in the UK are diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma each year.  Over the last 20 years or so there has been very little change in the treatment for young patients with RMS.  New treatments are needed so that more children can recover and lead a normal life.  

I am raising money to go to the Chris Lucas Trust, which is the only charity in the UK funding scientific research for RMS.

There was a lot we didn't know or understand about cancer, chemotherapy, side effects and life effects.  Edward has been amazingly brave, initially having 2 operations - one to remove the tumour and one to insert a double lumen Hickman line in the vein in his chest, which is for administering chemo, medications and for taking very regular blood tests.  

Ed was advised to give up school on his last year in Year 11.  Thornden School have been excellent throughout - from having an assembly to break the news to the rest of the year, to supporting Ed when he has been well enough to attend some lessons.  We are very grateful to them.

Ed's care has been split between the Piam Brown Ward at University Hospital Southampton and the team at Winchester Hospital - with regular weekly visits from his lovely nurse Nina Gurd.  They all work incredibly hard and care for him so well. 

We are all very proud of Ed's unbelievable strength and how he has coped with each awful intensive round of chemo.  He has never really complained and is a positive soul - looking towards the days of the month he is able to go out with his good friends Dan B, Reuben, Ali, Harry, Carlos, Dan S, Max, Jonno, Ryan, Harvey and Will. 

Ed's whole family have been a huge help - with regular visits from his grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.  Ed's cousins James, Josh and Luke shaved their hair off in support of Ed when his hair fell out with the chemo. 

As Ed's own personal challenge is so huge I have chosen a challenge which is something completely out of my comfort zone.  I am not a runner, more of a cyclist and it would have been easier to sign up for another cycling challenge - but I have chosen to take part in the Great South Run in October 2018.  I will start training for this alongside my 18 year old daughter and sister to Ed, Chloe - who has been there for each chemo session and tries her best to keep Ed's spirits up.  My sister, Lizzy, will also take part with us - Lizzy actually moved back to England from the Netherlands to support the family.

We are all nervous about this challenge but knowing we will be raising money for the Chris Lucas Trust and something so important makes us more determined.

We hope you can donate anything you can for this charity to help beat this evil cancer.    

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.