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In 2014 we received the awful news that my mum had breast cancer. Although devasted by the news we were positive that my mum would be ok and beat the big C.
At her first chemo session we met an amazing lady called Alison . Alison and my mum became firm friends and supported each other through the highs and lows of living with cancer. They even joked they were a tag team as just as one would get over the horrendous effects of one treatment or hit a bump in the road the other would be having a similiar or same experience.
By early 2015 both my mum and Alison had finished their gruelling treatments and were cancer free.
Although the fear of recurrence was never far away they were both ready to make the most of their 2nd chance at living life.
In September 2016 Alison was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. The cancer cells had spread to her brain. We were all utterly devastated. Despite being really poorly Alison remained positive.
On the 9th December we were dealt another heartbreaking blow. My mums cancer had spread to her bones.
Secondary breast cancer is NOT cureable.
My mum and Alison were a tag team again. This was a fight to the end.
Sadly Alisons cancer had progressed too far and she died on the 26th May 2017.
My mum lived with the disease for 18 months before she too passed away on the 24th June 2018 😢

It is estimated that there are around 35000 women currently living with secondary breast cancer in the UK. Around 30% of women that have had breast cancer will develop secondary breast cancer within 10 years of their original diagnosis.

I had never heard of secondary breast cancer before my mums diagnosis. Have you?

After Alison died I needed to do something to deal with the way I was feeling about my mums diagnosis and so decided to raise awareness of Secondary Breast Cancer and those living with the disease. I also decided to raise money for Breast Cancer Care to help them support women affected by cancer and to highlight their current campaign Secondary not second rate raising awareness of secondary breast cancer and campaigning for better care for those living with SBC.

Read more about the campaign here:-

https://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/secondary

I'm also raising money for our local Maggies Centre which offers practical and emotional support to those living with cancer and their families.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/running-for-the-35000

I chose to run a number r of events over the year which started with the Supernova 5k in Falkirk in November 2017 and will culminate in my biggest challenge yet the Glen Ogle 33 Ultra in November 2018.

Read more about the Glen Ogle Ultra here:-

http://runyabam.com/glen-ogle-33/

Although its relatively short as far as Ultras go this will be no easy feat.

I will be running in memory of my mum, Julie Russell, and Alison Dick as well as in support of the thousands of women living with secondary breast cancer.

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