So here I am again, having said “NEVER AGAIN” whilst in the middle of a 20 mile freezing cold training run at the beginning of the year! However, this time my reasons are very personal...

Whilst I was unlucky in the ballot this time, I have managed to secure a charity place with a charity which is now all too close to my heart; The June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund.

My good friend Daniella's Father and a dear family friend, Andrew, was recently diagnosed with Mesothelioma, in September 2014. Since this Andrew went from being a fit and healthy man to having stage 4 cancer discovered and given a prognosis of one year. Sadly, Andrew passed away on 3rd November 2014, exactly 6 weeks after his diagnosis. 

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleural lining in the lung that can only be caused by Asbestos, anyone that knows Andrew will know he is the least likely person to go near a building site to have known exposure to asbestos. Like many people, where Andrew has been exposed to this material is unknown. It can take 50 years for it to develop and is symptomless until it reaches the later stages. Currently there is no cure for this type of cancer, mainly because it isn’t discovered until it is too late. 

The June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund is an independent charity dedicated to research into mesothelioma. Since they were set up in 1997 their supporters have raised well over £1,100,000 for a wide range of projects. The Fund has also funded information, advice and support for patients and their carers, and raised awareness of the disease among healthcare professionals. They are an independent charity and do not receive any central funding from Government, or from the public sector. This means that every June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund Award has been made up entirely by donations. 

I'm sure you will agree that this is a cause that needs our help and every single donation will mean the world to myself, Andrew and his family. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you in advance for your donation.

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.