On Friday 10^th June I will be running a 66 mile Bob Graham Round in memory of my wife’s lovely mum, Gabrielle, who died last year after a brave, but brief, battle with pancreatic cancer. She was a creative, loving mum, and very proud of her nine grandchildren, who named her ‘granny biscuit’ after her infamous biscuit tin.

Gabi's diagnosis came out of the blue last summer. She never made it to Christmas. Pancreatic cancer has some of the worst survival rates of all cancers, mainly as it’s so hard to diagnose. Only 1 in 4 people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in England survive their disease for one year or more, and only 7% survive their disease for five years or more.

I am raising funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK by running the Bob Graham Round, a 66 mile circuit of 42 of the highest peaks in the Lake
District, over 27,000 ft of ascent and descent (nearly the height of Everest), within 24 hours. The route has a history spanning 200 years, was part of the Lakeland 24 hour peak record, and first run in its current guise by Bob Graham in 1932. Its nearly 90 years to the day since Bob did his Bob for his 42^nd birthday, and as I’m 42 (and it’s also the meaning of life), this seems like an appropriate moment to undertake this challenge. 

During my training runs I have I have peaked at 50 miles a week and have lost all my toenails, but I know if I manage to get round (only 1 in 3 attempts are successful), I will be thinking of Gabi and all the donations made to Pancreatic cancer UK, and it will help spur me towards the finish steps of Moot Hall, in Keswick.

You can track my Bob Graham Round using this link, which
will go live when I start at 2000hrs on Friday 10^th June: https://live.opentracking.co.uk/bgr2022/?n=33

It’s unacceptable that more than half of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die within 3 months. Survival rates have improved enormously for most cancers, yet for pancreatic cancer, this is not the case. Pancreatic Cancer UK is dedicated to taking on this injustice using every possible means. They're supporting people with pancreatic cancer now, campaigning, and funding vital research to transform the future. Help them to make the breakthroughs that people with pancreatic cancer so desperately need.