On the 28^th of April 2019 I will be running the London Marathon with my beautiful mumma to raise money for the Royal Marsden. I have chosen The Royal Marsden because they have done so much for my family over the years.

In 2002 when she was only 41 years old my Mum received the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer and received treated at the Royal Marsden hospital including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and various operations.  During this time, my Mum amazed us all with her positivity and determination that life would be normal for my 4 siblings and I. The Royal Marsden was a great help with this. Every year my sister and I took part in a local pantomime, my Mum never missed a show and thanks to The Marsden this didn’t change even though she was going through the hardest time in her life. They facilitated Mum coming to the pantomime and sitting at the back with surgical drains and IV pumps with her.  After a year of treatments and operation’s she was fighting fight again, received regular check up’s for the next 10 years and has now received the all clear.

Then in 2017 my family received another devastating blow when my brother Sam was diagnosed with testicular cancer at just 27 years old. If this wasn’t enough we soon found out that it had spread to his lungs and lymph nodes meaning a much longer and more
aggressive course of chemotherapy and an operation resulting in a stay in intensive care.  All of the doctors and nurses were so fantastic during this time and ensure that Sam was given all of the information and support he needed and kept him a part of all the decisions. They were also there to offer emotional support when things just got too much for not just Sam but all of us.  Sam really impressed us with his  determination and positivity and did it all in true Sam style with a smile and a plenty of handstands along the way.I am happy to say that after a very intense year with so many up’sand down’s Sam is now clear and is as strong as he has ever been, maybe even stronger.

I have chosen to run the London marathon for The Royal Marsden to help them to continue to do the amazing things they do.

Because of the Royal Marsden, I have a Mum and a brother and I will be forever thankful for that.