Anthony Jones
Run2London for Cancer Research UK
Fundraising for Cancer Research UK
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page. On the 2nd of August 2013 Neil Jones, Chris Lawrence and Alan Copp led a team of Bupa staff and other supporters and ran from the Bupa Care Services UK Head Office in Leeds to the Bupa Corporate Centre Office in London in just 8 days. This took in 200+ miles of road and pathways and was all in aid of Cancer Research UK.
Neil, Chris and Alan's Stories
Over many years Neil has been involved in a number of charitable events both internally and externally to Bupa, these have included completing the Great North Run many times, but always in fancy dress, he has completed two 100 kilometer in a day challenges on foot and one 200 kilometer in a day challenge, half on foot and half on a bike. Last year he also completed a triathlon in Cornwall, again all have been completed for local or national charitable organisations for which he has raised thousands of pounds. He also had the pleasure of being part of the Bupa Ecuador challenge and again thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to work with the local communities in such a remote location.
Over the past 10 years Neil has seen a number of family members taken from him by the horrible disease of cancer, but more recently in 2010 his step mother died of cancer and later that year his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer which she continues to fight through. To add to this (and sorry to sound so morbid) his older brother also has quite extreme diabetes which has lead to him having several operations, the largest was a replacement of his kidneys, and currently he finds himself in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham following another procedure.
As you can imagine whilst this is tough on Neil's family, we are also exposed to people who I can only describe as extremely brave and courageous which we also use to keep everyone positive and constantly look for the best in every situation. Being around such people has driven us to want to complete yet another challenge, but one of such a large scale that we can raise a large enough voice to equally match with funds.
From his early days in the Scouts Chris has always been involved in raising money be it running activities at local fetes or washing cars on a Saturday morning. As he has grown, so have the events and to date he has completed several 40 mile events and the UK three peaks in under twenty four hours. Neil found that it did not take much persuading for Chris to join him on the most recent 100k in a day challenge. The Great North Run has always been a source of lots of great memories where Neil and Chris ran as storm troopers.
At university Chris made friends with a great guy called Dave, they were on the same course and spent hours together studying for exams and preparing for assignments. Over the years Chris saw Dave often as they progressed in to the world of work but then Dave was diagnosed with a brain tumour, the medication and the surgery were all very intrusive on his life, but right to the very end Dave was a joy to be with. Dave left this world a couple of years ago and left and gorgeous wife and a wonderful daughter. Chris attended Dave’s funeral and saw the loss in his parents eyes, his wife Sarah was extremely brave but Chris knows the effect that Dave leaving us has had on her.
It is knowing the effect that Dave's cancer had on his family that will be driving Chris to complete this event, it will be tough but it needs to be done so that we can help to alleviate this needless suffering. We hope you feel the same way and will support us in any way you can.
When Neil asked Alan if he was up for this challenge it was not difficult to find the motivation needed. In February 2011 Alan's mum (Neil's stepmum) lost a two and a half year long battle against cancer. It was a tough time for Alan's whole family and those who knew his mum. Enduring the ups and downs and the hope and then dismay as treatment stops working was a tough experience. Alan hopes that raising as much money as possible through the Run2London can help other families avoid having to go through the terrible time that his family did. Cancer is not just hard for the patient, it affects those close as well. Most of us know someone who has been affected in some way by cancer.
Alan has to date run 30 marathons including Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Prague and London in 2012, raising money for the hospice where his mum spent her last days. Last year he stepped up a bit and completed his first 6 hour race running nearly 68km. This is though, by far, his greatest challenge to date, but with the cause to raise money to help others is ready to break the pain barrier!!
So please dig deep and donate now.