On July 5^th my Mum died. She had cancer. When she was taken into hospital on Valentine’s Day we knew that things weren’t looking good; she came home on March 9^th - my parents’ wedding anniversary. Most cruelly, the cancer had metastasized into her spine rendering her bedridden, so she, and we, had to watch her slowly lose strength and mobility as the disease progressed. Then Covid19 hit. 

Over the weeks and months that followed we were fortunate to be able to come to an uneasy peace with the situation, at a time when so many could not. We were grateful for the support that friends and family gave, from a distance, during lockdown but also aware of their struggles in not being able to be there for her and us as they otherwise might have been. Through it all, Mum’s strength, courage and, perhaps above all, acceptance was truly remarkable. In many ways it was the ultimate act of love because it made the sheer awfulness of it all a little easier to bear for the rest of us.  

In difficult circumstances we were and remain grateful for the support we received: the visits from carers did more than see to her needs they also brightened her day, Marie Curie carers and nurses were on hand in the wee small hours, and the local hospice palliative care outreach team touched base often to offer support.

Mum didn’t lose a battle or fight. Nobody, nothing won. She certainly wasn’t defeated. Her life is not defined by its last few months, although these only served to reinforce the attitude with which she approached so much in a life full of caring for others, community spiritedness, persistence (some would say stubbornness!), and love.

Yet, the fact remains, dying from cancer is not a pleasant death. It happens too often. Around the world researchers, including some of my fantastic colleagues, are working to find ways of tackling the disease but research costs money, and for that reason I’m hoping to give a little something back by raising funds for Cancer Research. And, while we search for those cures, I want also to support those who are there for patients and families in these times, through fundraising for Marie Curie and for Mum’s local hospice, St Barnabas.

Between August 22^nd 2020 (Mum’s birthday) and 26^th September 2021, I’m aiming to cover over 10,000 km by biking, running and swimming. This endeavour will be punctuated by monthly challenges. These are likely to include: attempting the Yorkshire Beast (200 miles of cycling in one day, 15,000 ft of climbing), Coast to Coast in a day, and probably two half ironmen. 

It’s a difficult time to be asking for money and purse strings are tight, so please don’t feel obliged, support by cheering me on, by knocking out a few miles with me on a ride/run (coffee stops compulsory) or by forcing me into a swimming pool/lake. Whatever way, there’s plenty of time. Show you care by raising awareness, or, if you find some pennies down the back of the sofa that you can spare, donate them here, they will travel far.

Thank you.

Vee

Updates via Twitter @Miles_for_Mum

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Special thanks to Ian & Tracey, Yvonne & Richard, and Andrea; to Vicky, Justine, and Becky; to Kate, Jacqui and to Helen for their big, brave and generous hearts.

Thanks also to Velo29 and the fantastic, caring crew at OSB Events/Outlaw Triathlon for their support.

#milesformind #milesforMum