Earlier this year I lost someone who had a huge impact on my life, my Grandad.  He spent many weekends taking me and my brother camping to the Lakes, taught me to sail and later in life introduced me to scuba diving. Something that i have recently returned to. He and my grandma always lived a full life travelling the world, they always had time for the family however, and we all have fond memories of family parties.

After he was diagnosed with prostate cancer he remained active and tried to live a normal life. I feel privilaged to have been able to join him on what was his and my grandma's last trip to Austrailia, Somewhere that they travelled a lot as my uncle and family live there.

As the cancer progressed he bacame involved with Prostate Cancer UK. Throughout his illness he benifitted from new treatrments developed through research supoorted by the charity. Everytime the cancer progressed a new drug became available to prolong his life and he had 12 years from his first diagnosis. During that time he made friends with many of the staff and volunteers involved in Prostate Cancer UK and even two weeks before he died Grandad phoned the charity to give support to their abiraterone campaign as he was fortunate to have the chance to benefit from this  new treatment.

Having appreciated the support that he had received from the charity,in the later stages of his illness Grandad became a peer mentor providing valuable support for other men who had been diagnosed with the cancer.

Due to his involvment in the charity one of the representitives attended the funeral and accepted a cheque of half the collection.

It is for the above reasons that me and my mother decided to run the Great North Run in memory of Roger and to raise money for Prostate Cancer uk. We hope that the money raised will enable them to contnue their research and offer excellent support to those suffering.

Any donations will be so greatly received.