Five years ago we lost Dad to bowel cancer. The big grizzly bear, 1st XV prop, Head Boy, a five time marathon runner, Mr Romantic, a traveller, a planner, an organiser, and army officer, an explorer, the most incredible father of five, a loving husband, and the best friend to so so many. Time without him hasn’t got any easier, there’s still a lot of pain and sadness and sometimes anger but what I do know now is that that is okay. I think I first thought that grief was something that followed death only immediately, something that you had to push through, get to the other side of. I’ve learnt however that grief is something that will always be there, and with that there is good and bad - there is struggle for sure, but there is also joy in the memories I have and in the way I feel Dad with me everyday, in learning more about him through my own actions and how I live my life. I’m not sure grief is something to overcome, but rather something to live alongside, to grow from and thrive with. Anyway, I say all this not just to share my thoughts but because I’m running the Edinburgh marathon in memory of Dad and to raise money for Sue Ryder, a charity that supported Dad when he was at St. John’s Hospice in the final few days before his death. If you have anything to donate at all please please please do - I promise that your money will help in the most incredible way. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me in this so far! Lots of love everyone ❤️