After many years, I decided earlier this year to bite the bullet and sign up to run the Race For Life 5k in Sefton Park on the 2nd July 2017 in memory of three of my family members who sadly were taken from us way too early.

The first family member I will be running for and remembering is my amazing Grandfather Phillip O'Pray who passed away on the 28th December 2000 after a battle with stomach cancer that he sadly lost. Even after 17 years, I cannot describe how much I think of him, miss him, love him even more every day and he will always be a big factor in my life and one of my heroes.

The second family member I will be running for and remembering is my Grandmother Rose Jones who passed away on the 8th January 2001 after being in hospital for a long period of time. She is always forever missed and loved by my family each and every day.

And the last family member I will be running for and remembering is my amazing baby cousin Connor Denis Gillespie who passed away on the 4th January 2016  aged 17 after a 11 month battle with cancer. This amazing young man fought until the bitter end with a smile on his face, always putting others before himself and ensured that everything he did, he did in the only way he could, by being himself.

All I can say is that my Grandad, my Nan and my baby cousin have inspired me in more ways than I can say on my life, they are always remembered by myself and my family each and every day and are always loved more and each day.

By doing running the Race For Life this year for them three; I feel that I am carrying on their legacies while also fundraising to help us beat cancer sooner so that no more lose their family members to this awful disease.