I have been persuaded to run the Reading Half Marathon by my Brother-In-Law, Simon Emery, who is also running the race in aid of the CLIC Sargent Charity. Please take a couple of minutes to read their story and hopefully you will see what a good cause it is and maybe spare a bit of cash to sponsor us:

Simon and Tracey have a lovely son and daughter: Matthew (pictured, who will be 4 in April) and Hannah who is 7.  In February last year they moved from Berkshire down to the West Country as Simon's work was based in this region. They took the big step to  relocate and found a lovely little village and a beautiful new home.

Shortly after moving they found a lump on Matthew and he was eventually diagnosed with not one but TWO strains of cancer and what should have been the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their lives turned in to what can only be described as a living nightmare!

A malignant tumor was found in Matthew's pelvic region and what was at first thought to be a benign tumor on his chest wall turned out to be malignant as well.

Over the last 12 months they have endured countless visits to and from and in and out of the Exeter and Bristol hospitals where he has undergone relentless examinations, scans, treatments and operations in a bid to rid him of this terrible illness.  He and the family have shown incredible strength and courage throughout this ordeal and Matthew truly is an amazing little boy, he has bounced back from everything thrown at him and you wouldn't think to look at him now that there is anything wrong with him.

Matthew had to initially endure intensive and exhausting chemotherapy treatment in a bid to shrink the tumors so they could be operated on.  The operation to remove the first tumor in his pelvic region unfortunately resulted in him losing his bladder and his prostate as well and the second resulted in him having to lose a rib along with the growth but at least they were both out of his little body.

If that wasn't enough he then caught one of those nasty hospital bugs which saw him and Simon isolated in a room whilst having untold amounts of drugs pumped into him to treat the infection.

After overcoming this they then had to endure daily 200 mile round trips to Bristol for intensive Radiotherapy treatment which meant he had to lie perfectly still, which for a boy of three was not an easy thing to do but he did..

He's over this part of his treatment and is now only having chemotherapy injections to continue the battle but thing's are looking positive and indeed he attended his first day at Pre-School this week which he thoroughly enjoyed..

The support the family have received from professional, charity, work colleagues, family and friends since that shattering day last year has been fantastic and I know Tracey and Simon have had to draw on this in their darkest hours as we can only begin to imagine what they have been through so I think you'll see why it was not a difficult decision for me to support Simon on this run.

Thanks for taking the time to read their story and I hope you can spare a little to
encourage us over the line and raise some funds for this very worthy charity.

Many thanks
Peter.

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: CLIC Sargent will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.

Pete.