Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Never did I think I would have a place and be running in the one, the only, LONDON MARATHON!!.... 🏃🏼‍♀️ 

But, on the same token, never did I think that my Dad, my amazing, strong, active, fun, Dad who always found it hard to put his feet up, the best Grandad who took such enjoyment from being active with his Grandkids, would be dealt such a raw deal and develop Multiple Myeloma (MM) and now, through no choice of his own, and against his will be confined to bed rest most of the day enduring the most agonising pain throughout his body.

How was it diagnosed? After getting ill on holiday 15 + years ago, Dad had a series of blood tests which revealed he had an underlying/ dormant type of blood cell (MGUS) that was indicative of a form of blood type cancer in years to come possibly. Dad had regular blood tests     year upon year where the count slowly grew until it ‘spiked’ requiring treatment and was officially ‘diagnosed’ at the start of 2015.

Well that day, mine and my families worlds fell apart and it has never been the same since. 💔 To absorb the fact that your loved one has CANCER is, before it happens, unimaginable. Until it becomes reality. And with Dad getting MM, we knew it would be a tough battle as it’s not one of those that you can just ‘cut out’... it’s there, in your blood, your marrow, your bones. Myeloma is a form of blood cancer, like lymphoma and leukaemia, but it attacks the bone marrow, which in turn causes the break down of the bones themselves, causing lesions to the bones, and ultimately fractures/breaks.

In March 2015 Dad began his journey of treatment. By this time Dad had severe back aches and by July 2015 Dad was bed bound in excruciating pain, and required major back/ spinal surgery due to six of his vertebrae fracturing. Dad received radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Clearly from this point on Dad would not be the fit, healthy man that he was.  But he strived on. 

In 2016 under Barts Dad had stem cell transplant and was in isolation for 3 weeks, was so ill with being given high dose chemo to kill off all his red/ white blood cells, platelets, almost as a ‘reset button’ to then receive unaffected / new cells, but disappointingly after the 100 day blood test the cancer levels were the same as before the treatment.

All the while Dad continued on chemo, you name it, he’s had it!! Progressively getting weaker, feeling more pain. Under Barts, Dad was selected for two new drug trials that we as a family had even looked into, but ultimately after responding positively initially, within a few months the drugs stopped working as the cancer cells become familiar with the drug and resist it.

Dad was 70 years young in October ‘18 and coinciding with a wonderful week away with all the family, was the last time that Dad drove a car as he suffered a fracture to his right arm, had to be the right didn’t it! More awful pain, couldn’t use it at all, and finally agreement to operate in January,; to remove the complete bone (humerus) from dads upper arm and replace it with metal! A new bionic arm! With it being almost 6 weeks we’re hoping Dad may start to move it soon.

Right now Dad is up against it. It’s so frustrating for family when you can’t really ‘do much’ for them, it’s heart breaking seeing him in constant pain. (Mum you’re doing amazing).

Well, I CAN run this Marathon for MYELOMA UK and raise awareness. I will be running with ‘D -A - D’ on my bright orange vest!!! Please support me, my family and Myeloma UK. My Dad has always been and will forever be my hero. 🧡

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! X