Hi Everyone,

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am committing myself to a "weight loss challenge" to lose 56 pounds in 56 weeks. I am doing this for myself, my wonderful Dad, fiance, 7 month old baby girl and my family. I want to lose weight to raise money to increase awareness and help to improve research and treatments into bile duct cancer. My lovely Dad became ill suddenly in November 2009. Dad was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer of the bile duct. Dad was just 54 years old. It is very rare cancer with approx 1000 cases a year in the UK.

Dad became a Grandad for the first time in 2009 three times over to beautiful Max, Jess and my daughter Samiah. Dad was so looking forward to his first Christmas as a Grandad and all the joy and excitement was taken from him as he was suffering with Jaundice and Pruritus (a deliberating & chronic skin itch) as symptoms of this disease. In January 2010 Dad went through major cancer surgery having the whipple procedure which is one of the biggest operations the human body can go through. The operation was successful and the tumour was removed. Dad is now undergoing Chemotherapy until October with the hope of destroying any stray cells. Dad remains positive, strong and a true inspiration to all his family and everyone that loves and knows him. Dad always says "If I'm ok then everyone else is ok" he never looks at anything as a wall that is impossible to get over he just smashes straight through the wall!.

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.

So please dig deep and help me to raise lot's of pennies to fund research into this very rare cancer that has affected my Dad's and all my families lives beyond measure.

I gave up smoking 4 years ago on willpower alone and I aim to have the same strong focus and approach to this goal. Having watched my Dad go through so much from symptoms, to diagnosis, major surgery and now Chemotherapy my challenge seems so small in comparison. My Dad is not only my Dad he is my hero and my closest friend.

Love to all of you - I can't thank you enough for supporting me with what will be one of the biggest challenges of my life but with the love and support of my wonderful family and friends - I know I will succeed . I promise to keep you updated throughout my challenge which starts on Monday the 10th May 2010 - the day after my 31st birthday! I am also getting married on 19th June 2011 which is *Father's Day* so have another aim to help me along the way :-) x.x.x.x.x

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Update from week 1 of challenge: I am really happy to say at the end of week 1 I have lost 7 pounds and 2 ounces!!! off to a great start with a big smile to help me reach my goal. Just to let you all know I will update my page monthly with my monthly pounds and inch loss total. Thanks a million to all of you have supported me so far it means the absolute world to me. x.x.x.x.

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Update from month 1 of challenge: I can't believe a month has gone already..it's flown. Just to keep you all updated so you know i'm working hard. Really happy to let you all know I have lost 10 pounds in total this month and there is 7 and a half inches less body fat on me too :-). I lost 7 pounds in week one, 3 pounds in week 2 and 1 pound in week 3 and then on yesterdays weigh in I had a mysterious 1 pound gain! I know I have not cheated at all so we will put that one down to mother nature but it has spurred me on for the next month. I aim to hit my target of a pound a week this month and hope to be updating you next month with a 4 pound loss and lot's less inches as I am starting back at the gym this month too. I can['t thank you enough for all your love and support it really keeps me going and I will reach my goal. Your donation's mean so much. Thank you all. x.x.x.x

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Further update June 2010: Dad returned to work 3 weeks ago and is doing so well. Dad is a groundsman and has been doing this physical job and in the heat too! I think you will all agree that following major surgery 5 months ago and whilst currently undergoing Chemo he really is amazing and a fantastic inspiration to other's that have suffered the same too. We love you so much Dad :-) x.x.x.x

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20th June 2010 - Spent a wonderful Father's day with my Dad and all the family. It was my wonderful Fiance Fou's first Father's day too. I have updated my pictures with a piccie of me and Dad chilling in the afternoon sun. This time next year Dad will be giving me away to Fou on Father's day 2011 - I can't wait :-)

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Update from month 2 of challenge: Another month gone....Worked hard on fitness this month as hit the gym for the first time in over a year since being pregnant and giving birth to my baby girl. Have enjoyed being back and can see my shape changing lost a further 5 and a half inches this month bringing my inch loss total to 13 inches now! Yay. The scales have been disappointing as have stayed the same spoke to my gym instructor who says this is not uncommon when you start working on your fitness. It has made me determined to work hard this month. I have also been under the weather this month firstly with tonsilitis and then a cold and a chest infection :-( . Current loss is 10 pounds in 8 weeks so still 2 pound ahead of my pound a week target. Fingers crossed for a 4 pound loss this month well certainly a minimum of 2 so I continue to hit my weekly target. Thanks again for all your support x.x.x.x Great news Dad became a Grandad of 4 this month. Welcome to the world Molly Karen you are beautiful, congratulations to my brother Andy and his wife Fiona:-) x.x.x.

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Update from Month 3 of challenge: Really happy have lost 5 pound this month and a further 4 inches which brings my weight loss to 15 pound and inch loss total to 17. I have got 4 pound to go and I will be back to my pre pregnancy weight too. Thanks for all your support it really spurs me on. Dad is doing amazingly well, he had a blood transfusion 2 weeks ago and this has made him have more energy and less dizzy he is also taking iron tablets. I have posted a recent pic of Dad so you can see how well he is looking x.x.x.

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Update from Month 4 of challenge: I lost 2 pound this month and a further 2 inches...was aiming for 4 pound to hit my 2 pound a week and get back to my pre pregnancy weight didn't quite hit it but will push harder next month. Really happy to have lost 23 inches and 17 pounds in 16 weeks on my challenge...I am within my target of a pound a week :-). Dad is doing so well he is looking forward to a week away next week with my brother and family and has 3 chemo treatments to go now. I have added a picture taken on Sept 8th 2010 where we enjoyed a lovely day relaxing in the sun in Bourton on the Water. Dad is looking great. Love ya Daddy x.x.x.

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Update from Month 5: No weight loss this month! Not pleased with that but have lost a further 7 and a half inches on the tape measure and my clothes are starting to feel looser :-). We are all looking forward to Dad's Chemo ending next month.

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Update from Month 6: Weight loss of 3 pound this month and 2 inches lost on the tape. Although have slipped under target now having lost 20 pounds in 24 weeks!! Need to up my game before the Xmas festivities!. Feeling fitter and lighter which is good and people starting to notice my loss now. So happy Dad's treatment has finished. We took a picture of Dad with his 4 Grandkids at the Zoo and uploaded the piccie onto a thank you card for all the staff and nurses at the Churchill Hospital that have been tremendous to Dad throughout his illness. Amazing people doing an amazing job we are so grateful. x.x.x.

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Update from Month 7: I'm a happy girl...3 pound loss this month and a further 5 and a half inches...gonna keep working hard with the festive season round the corner. Dad is doing really well and is out walking miles and miles as a groundsman 3 times a week, a really physical job and in this cold weather too...Dad your amazing. We are waiting on a results from Dad's scan that he had after completing Chemo it was routine and was carried out as Dad has lost nearly 6 stone over the last year and believed to be because he has been straight back working in a physical job accompanied by the symptons from Chemotherapy. We all remain positive and strong and are keeping Dad smiling this month.

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24th Nov 2010 - I went to the hospital to offer support to Dad and Mum on results day.....Dad got wonderful news the spot on the scan is believed scar tissue. We are so happy and going to make sure Dad has an amazing Christmas with us all this year after all the joy of Christmas was taken from Dad last year.

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Update from month 8: 3 pound loss and 2.5 inches. Feeling happy as have turned into a stone I have not weighed since 2008 and I am 2 pound off being the lightest weight I have been in years and years! Fingers crossed for not too much damage over the festive period. We are looking forward to a special Christmas day with Dad, Mum and all the kids at my youngest brother's house. Happy Christmas to you all.

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Early Dec 2010: I received a copy in the post of the Winter AMMF magazine from Helen, there was an articled detailing my slimathon inside. This made my day and I couldn't wait to show Dad my challenge and Dad's story in print with our piccie. I feel so proud to be raising money for AMMF. Thank you Helen for your lovely emails/communication it really makes me smile and keeps me motivated.

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Xmas 2010 was wonderful, absolutely wonderful. for a whole 4-5 weeks Dad believed the cancer was no longer there after the clear scan and smiled his way through Xmas with Mum, us and his beautiful Grandkids. Just after Xmas Dad began suffering with an achey back and had a series of tests and scans over the weeks to follow. In early March 2011 we received the most devastating news Dad's cancer had come back, it was diagnosed as terminal and Dad had just 3-6 months to live. On hearing this news our wedding was 3 and a half months away. Dad continued to be positive, fight and believed that he would as always tackle this dreadful cancer as hard as he could but Dad was getting weaker and we were all starting to notice a big change from March.

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6th June 2011 - Challenge target date has arrived and I didn't reach my personal goal of 4 stone, I hit 2 and a half stone and still not reached the £1000 target. I feel so much fitter and healthier and proud of my achievements so far..however... I felt like I had let my Dad down by not smashing through my target. I had a chat with Dad he said he is so proud of me and knows I will reach my goal and not stop til I do. This made me so happy and I am sooo like my Dad, fiercely determined and I won't every stop. Whilst I am not putting a date to have lost the weight by I will be working hard to hit it and also to smash through my £1000 fundraising target too.

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June 12th @ 1710 hrs. The worst and most devastating day of our lives. Dad passed away peacefully at home with Mum, Me and My Brothers. Dad admitted he was holding on for our Wedding in a week's time. I told him it's ok to let go now Daddy I know you will be there on our special day. Dad had never been in pain with his cancer and this was the first day he complained of pain, this was managed and he did not suffer. Whilst our worlds have fallen apart we are getting married on Father's day this Sunday, this was Dad's wish and we are really looking forwad to doing him proud. My whole family will draw on the strength Dad showed throughout his illness and we will enjoy and celebrate not only our marriage but also the life of the best Dad, Husband and Grandad to our babies that anyone could have dreamed of having. I am such a lucky girl to have had such an amazing Dad who touched the lives of all he knew. Love you Daddy. Always & Forever in our hearts. x.x.x.x.

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Dad's funeral is on Tuesday the 21st June. For donations it is Mum's and our families wish for them to go to AMMF to help raise lot's of money to go into vital research into this rare and devastating cancer. If we can save just one family going through what we have then that will make us so happy. Please click on the DONATE button on my just giving page and donate anything you can. We are so grateful. All our love and warmest of thanks for the most amazing support you have all given both Dad and all our family.

**Apolgies to everyone who has given me support over the last 5 months, I have not felt able to update my page since Dad's funeral. All the family are looking after each other and keeping as strong as we can and doing all we can to make Dad proud living happy & healthy lives just as he wanted. Dad would have been 56 years old today, Saturday November 5th. A very tough & emotional day for us all. Especially as traditionally we would hold a family fireworks birthday party for Dad Myself, Mum & the boys went out for a meal together to celebrate Dad's life and share memories we had a wonderful evening. Thanks to my lovely cousin Dave for a fantastic meal at the Coach & Horses in Chiselhampton, Oxon. Mum brought Dad a memorial bench for his birthday it has pride of place at the cemetry and is stunning. Dad used to sit on a bench of this make at the Churchill Hospital Oxford when he was having treatment, he loved how it was made and admired the workmanship of their classic oak bench(www.classicgardenfurniture.co.uk) . The Words on the bench are as follows "Forever in our Hearts. Charlie Allum 5th Novemeber 1955-12th June 2011. A Wonderful Husband, Dad & Grandad loved and missed so very much. Always remembered with a smile - a devoted family man who was one of a kind.". I am still doing my challenge my weight loss remains 2st7lbs which I am proud of through a very difficult time, as I mentioned on previous entries I have got 1st7lbs to lose which I know I will achieve but what I have decided to do is no set myself a deadlline/time limit. I will also continue to raise money for AMMF anyway I can over the coming months and years. My family are just so grateful to everyone who has taken the time to sponsor me on my challenge. We miss Dad beyond measure but he was very proud to know money was being raised for this charity. If I help just one person to not go through the devastation and loss my family have been through then it will all be worthwhile. All my love. Nic ****.

*******November 2011 - Me and My Husband are delighted to announce I am 13 weeks pregnant with our second child. We had our scan a few days ago and the baby gave us and our 2 year old Daughter a huge wave :-) My AMMF page will go quiet for a good while now on the weight loss score but I will restart my challenge after having Baby and continue to raise money and reach for my target weight. Thanks once again for all the continued love and support - you are all amazing****

Dec 2012 - It's been a long time since I updated my page now and that reason is we are now proud parents to our very beautiful second daughter Caliana Julie who is now nearly 6 months old. Her middle name is after her lovely Nan I know this would make you smile Dad. Caliana had a very rough start in life a week in special care at the JR2 Oxford just like her big sister many years ago she had breathing difficulties and an infection after being home just two weeks both the girls then got chickenpox! I thank god I have your smiliey and determined spirit pops it got me through! The week we were in hospital Mum and I released balloons from the hospital grounds with messages for you to read. It breaks my heart you never met Caliana Dad but she is a little smiler just like you and her big sister and this brings me comfort everyday. I have finished breastfeeding now and am back on my challenge and whilst I am not setting a deadline for completion I know i will reach my goal as I am a determined person it's in the blood of my whole family...so watch this space ;-). I will keep you all posted along the way and continue to raise money and awareness into this devastating disease however and whenever I can....Thank you all for reading and for all your support. My Dad was my best friend and every day that goes by I miss him more and more but he has left behind a fantastic legacy in our family. Our strength and courage over the last few years has been incredible in no one more than my beautiful Mum. Merry Xmas and Happy New Year 2012 everyone xxx

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As 2013 comes to a close as last year I would like to wish my Family, Friends & everyone who has been kind enough to continue to support me in my weightloss challenge by raising pennies for our families chosen Charity AMMF a very Merry Christmas. Christmas time always makes me think of my lovely Dad, the warmest person I ever knew with the biggest heart. Dad adored this time of year and it was always such a happy time, it's a time I miss him the most he had the best sense of fun and silliness . I have lost 3 stone 4 pounds now and have 10 pound to go to hit challenge target....not too many mince pies for me over the festive period! Hoping that running around after my beautiful 4 year old and 18 month old girls that will keep the pounds off!! Like last year I will be not be sending Christmas Cards and will donate my card and stamp money to this cause that is close to my heart. Merry Christmas and Happy new Year 2014. With heartfelt thanks and warm wishes...Here's to hitting target in 2014. With love and Thanks. Nic x.x.x.x.x.

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