Hi!

When we moved to our new home in 2007  we were over the moon to meet a lovely family next door who had also recently moved to the area. Unfortunately their son Matthew had just been diagnosed with tumours and after various attempts to fight the cancer he died aged 4 years and 10 months last February. We lost a neighbour, a friend and a huge ray of sunshine all in one go. We continue to share in the ups and downs of losing Matthew with his family who are just an amazing and inspirational bunch of folk and no doubt we will continue to do so as the years go by as we love them dearly.

Simon, (Matthew's dad), Clare and Rowan (friends) and I are all joining forces in supporting the battle to find a cure for cancer (Cancer Research UK)and provide support for children and their families suffering (CLIC). 

You can read about Matthew on Simon's page by looking for Matthew Emery on just giving.

I will be running with the memories I have of people I knew and have been taken from us with Cancer (Matthew, Roy, Ian, Sebby ....- if there is someone you would like to add to my list please let me know and I will write their name down and carry them with me through the streets of London. You can write them a private message, attach a photo, whatever you fancy.

Get in touch if you would like to send anything ddgacrome@aol.com.

I have run the London Marathon on a couple of previous occasions - it is not easy whatsoever. I have to work hard at my running, whether it be short, middle, long distances, on or off road and it is no easy feat (ha ha).

I wouldn't be asking for sponsorship if it wasn't for the fact that I need some serious motivation to get me up to 26.2 miles although it is a short distance to train for and run if someone may benefit from the amount of research I can fund from my sponsorship.

I would also like to thank Darren my husband and my children, Gareth and Anna for their patience, support and encouragement - without that I couldn't do it.

Great news too - as you will no doubt know I work at Ambrosia (the custard factory) who are owned by the group Premierfoods. Cancer Research is our corporate charity and for every pound I raise work will match!

Thank you!

Debs

Jan Update

Am now running in the snow and ice during the dark after work to ensure I get my miles in - wearing a variety of high visibilty outerwear hats and headlamps (glamourous huh?) and from the beginning of Jan running 10 miles every weekend adding a mile a week until a couple of weeks before the big day when I will drop the training and eat lots (scientifically known as fuelling - does toblerone count?)

 Feb Update

Have just done a 14 miler and feel great after not running for 2 weeks due to a heavy cold with a cough so after some doubts that I would fall back on my mileage today has reassured me that all is well.

Yesterday sold cakes and drinks at Clare's charity netball match which was a great boost to my target, have another coffee morning / table top sale planned at Winkleigh Village Hall 27th Feb which should add more.

March Update

Completed most of my long ones in March - 18, 20 and 22 miles all in one go over consecutive weekends. Also ran the Bideford half marathon on the 7th March and after only 8 years of running managed to finally crack the 2 hour barrier and get in at 1 hour 59 mins! Personal Best or what. I was really pleased but it was only the fact that the two mates I had travelled to Bideford with were in front of me and there was no way I was going back in the car with two smug mates and me all feeling sorry for myself. I would never have lived it down!

 

April

Not running as many long runs this month but more mid week short one. Ran 14 Good Friday and 12 planned for this Sunday with my mum. My mum is also doing her second London Marathon.  Getting a bit nervous now but focus focus focus is what I need to do apparently isn't it Ann-Marie?!

In the end ran a good strong 13 with my mum which was really nice as we ran around houses, along beaches and promenades which is much moe interesting than the country lanes near us where you are lucky if a tractor drives past in a 4 hour run!

Have run a couple of times this week and last longish one planned Saturday 17th (8 -9 miles) then a couple of small ones and the BIG ONE. Oh my gosh.....

Thanks Again for your support - it means masses.

 

Well, what can I say. I DID IT!!!!!

Wow am over the moon, what an experience running a marathon is but running London is awesome. You are never alone as you are constantly flanked by fellow runners and by supporters. I did the course in 4 hours 20 mins.

Inspirational runners were all around me - they had the reasons for running on their vests, there were pictures of people they had lost, names of loved ones etc and all through a huge variety of illnesses.

So pleased too that I met up with my mum on the course at mile 23 and we ran a mile or so together which was brilliant. (She ran the whole thing, she wasn't a spectator!)

Thanks also to Simon, Clare and Rowan for everything and well done you too! xxxx

Thanks to all of you who have sponsored me and helped me collect a huge sum of money.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.