On the 12th June 2020 our lives were changed forever when our beautiful little daughter Noëlle was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma (Rb), a rare form of childrens cancer. Hearing the words “risk to life” is unbearable and something no parent should ever hear.

Words cannot describe how devastating the diagnosis was to our family. 

Noëlle has been so brave and is undergoing treatment at the amazing Manchester & Birmingham children’s hospitals (big shout out to all the NHS staff!) and is responding well so far. Thanks to research and expertise the survival rate of the type of cancer is high within the UK. Although Noëlle has lost sight in her affected eye, doctors are hopeful they can save the eye.

Due to COVID-19, many charities have been struggling as key events like the Great North Run (GNR) have been cancelled. The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) is no exception therefore I am trying to help out a little by running my own version of the GNR.......”The Great Noëlle Run”.

I’m going to run a half-marathon (13 miles) every week on a Sunday for 13 weeks (169 miles) as this is the distance of the original GNR held in the North East. Noëlle has been inspirational to me so far on her journey to ringing that bell and with that inspiration, I have no doubt I will finish this challenge and reach our donation target.

To all the other children out there battling cancer, keep on fighting and don’t give up!