Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the death of a truly wonderful person - Miss Nicola Caldwell.

I am proud to say that Nicola and I enjoyed 3 very happy years together before her tragic passing in April 2003, following a courageous battle with leukemia.

As a mark of respect and in memory of her life, I have decided to compete in the Edinburgh Half Marathon which takes place in May 2013.  My original intention was to enter the Full Marathon but unfortunately, standard entries for the marathon closed before I could register. My plan now is to climb to the peak of Ben Nevis on Saturday 25th May and complete the Half Marathon on Sunday 26th May.

The charity I am fundraising for is called Nicola's Fund.(http://www.nicolasfund.co.uk/)  The appropriately named charity was formed in 2005 following the death of Nicola Riley, who sadly lost her life following a brave 3 year battle with a malignant brain tumour.  The main aims of the charity are "to improve the quality of life for children with cancer" and "to provide support and help for the families of children suffering from cancer".

As Nicola was only 18 years old when she passed away, I felt that Nicola's Fund was a very suitable charity.  Nicola's Fund will not only raise money for an excellent and worthy cause but will also raise awareness.

There are a number of excellent charities that are currently researching cancer in an attempt to understand the disease and ultimately find a cure. I hope the day comes when a cure for cancer is available. Until that day arrives, charities like Nicola's Fund will continue to support families and help them enjoy the time they have together. You can't put a price on the memories you gain from quality time spent with a loved one before they die.

Some of my fondest memories are of times spent with Nicola. Anyone lucky enough to have known Nicola will agree with me when I say she was a very special individual. Extremely courageous, spirited, kind, thoughtful, funny and she always knew how to have a good time. A stunning young girl taken from us far too early.

If you are able to donate even just a little amount, I know it will go a long way to support families across the country that are dealing with cancer on a daily basis. And I know both Nicola Caldwell and Nicola Riley will appreciate the gesture as much as I will.

Thank you,

Stephen

 

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