In September 2020, after what was originally treated as a water infection, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer which had unfortunately spread to his bones and later his prostate.  He is currently continuing to fight and remains positive and gives me inspiration every day to do better and aim to be all i can be.

Earlier in 2020 i had found running; originally as a lockdown fitness fix but i found the fitness improvement was nothing in comparison to the mental strength that running provides, as well as time to clear your mind. It helped me personally deal with the news of my dads illness as well as run away the daily demons that watching him go through would present and try and remain a force for positivism for him updating him of my progress. 

In 2020 i went from not being able to run to the end of the street to running over 35 miles in one go and over 2300km from May -December.  Reflecting over Christmas, i have decided on a series of challenges to complete in 2021 and my Dad suggested that it would be silly not to do it for charity to raise awareness and funds of Bladder Cancer so i have decided to do exactly that. 

To celebrate my dads 76th year i will aim to run the equivalent of 76 marathons by End of December 2021 - 3206 km

4 Ultra Marathons in 2021 at official events.I have currently signed up for Green Man Ultra on 6th March which is 45 miles of which i plan to not only complete the distance but aim to do in under 8 hours. I will sign up to the other ultra marathons as the year goes on with the aim to do one each weather season.

Ill be out on the road a lot so anyone who fancies a run please give me a shout.

Bladder cancer is not a rare cancer - it is the tenth most common cancer in the UK - that's 3% of all new cases.Over 10,300 people are diagnosed each year, around half of those will die. Despite this, there is very limited public awareness of the disease and it is a low priority on the public health agenda. Treatments have changed very little over the past 30 years and research is seriously underfunded. Bladder cancer has been called a 'Cinderella' cancer. ABC UK is dedicated to changing this and to giving bladder cancer patients a voice.