This page is dedicated to the memory of my stepdad Chris, who died in our home from Cancer on 14th May 2011. This is the page where you can sponsor Flora and Daniel to run the Bath Half Marathon to raise money for Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, who helped us care for Chris when he was dying.

As many visitors to this page will know, Chris was diagnosed with cancer very suddenly and died only a few weeks later. We had very little time with him but he remained at home in the final days of his life with all of us. This meant he had his family and friends around him and could listen to all the normal sounds of his home and the people in his life… People’s conversations in another room, the fire crackling, cats exploring, crossword guesses, the radio turned up too loud, arguments…! We were able to have some important conversations with him and try to make our farewells to him in the way we could and tell him we loved him. We did not have to time our feelings to the visiting hours of a hospital and Chris found comfort in knowing mum was there.

The Iain Rennie nurses helped us with the care for Chris and his pain relief. Where everything with Chris’ illness was scary and sudden and confusing, they were calming and discreet and gentle. They were a great support to us all and for this reason we will be running to raise money for their charity. We hope that this will help other families find comfort in their help in the way we did.

(It is perhaps a sign of what a great man Chris was that there are so many people running for him. We are just two, but if you know the family and wish to donate to the group you can visit my mum’s page.) Many Thanks x