Hi there! First of all thanks so much for spending some time on here.

The reason I have decided to share my personal story of loss is to raise awareness, get you guys thinking and to, primarily, shed some light on why I decided to run the Frankfurt marathon. When finished reading, I hope that what you'll take away from this is not pity, but rather a sense of empowerment over your own health. Thanks to the World Cancer Research Fund, we all have access to the latest research studies linking cancer prevention and survival to lifestyle choices around diet and physical activity. It’s really important to emphasise the word ‘choice’ in this context. This involves active decision-making; weighing the benefits and costs of certain choices over others...

The turning point  

Very recently, in April this year, I lost my father to one of the deadliest continued threats to human health - cancer. What first developed nearly 10 years ago around his nasal sinus - and seemed to have been cured -, started spreading last year. It attacked his lungs, brain and other organs leading to a quiet, yet painful death. We cannot be entirely sure whether the two bouts of cancer were linked or completely separate, but what I witnessed was the painful and very drastic transition from a healthy individual to someone who was unable to perform what once had been so natural. 

Probably like most men of his generation, checking up on his health wasn’t something my dad was particularly keen to do. Also, many Polish households only look at food as something that keeps you full, rather than a source of nutrients. Smoking is still socially accepted and affects around 30-35% of the country’s adult population.

Without doubt, losing a parent is one of the most traumatic turning points in life…it got me seriously thinking about whether anything could have been done to prevent it. 

The WCRF’s work   

Findings from the World Cancer Research Fund suggest more than 30% of cancer could be prevented. While not using tobacco would have a major impact, so does enjoying a healthy diet including a variety of wholegrains, vegetables, fruits and pulses, as well as being physically active and moderating the use of alcohol. Cancer currently affects one in two people in the UK, but about a third of the most common types could be prevented. This translates to around 80,000 cancer-free lives. Quite an impressive number!

Being a fitness enthusiast, recently adopting a plant-based diet and cutting down on alcohol and sugar, I am highly supportive of the WCRF's valuable work. Its numerous global studies inform health professionals, parents and teachers and therefore contribute to a lower cancer rate.  

Frankfurt Marathon

‘Strength doesn’t come from what you can do.

It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t’.

Having successfully completed two half-marathons, battling 27 miles/ 42 km was always on my bucket list, yet seemed a distant goal to tackle. A lack of motivation and an assumption that the right time had yet to come held me back.

The tragedy, and at the same time beauty of life is its unpredictability. This has been made clear to me this year. As much as I run this race for my father who was always supportive of my goals in life, I am also running this for myself to battle what once seemed impossible.   

Please donate what you can to help me get there.
Thank you in advance for your support.

Much love.
Katharina