Hi All,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my justgiving page. I appreciate the support. Any donation no matter how small would be most appreciated. I will be involved in fundraising events from now until the date of the marathon (26th April 2015) so keep your eyes peeled!

I grew up with my father, who definitely lived up to the title of the man of the house, and my mother, who like most mothers do, always put myself and my younger sister ahead of her needs. In 2006, I turned 16 and my sister was only 9, my dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer and passed away shortly after. I was still so young and didn’t quite grasp the effect this would have on our family or the responsibilities he had left behind for my mother to take on by herself. Sadly in the summer of 2013 my mother also passed away from ovarian cancer and it was my time to step up.

Now, just 2 years on it is just myself and my sister and despite our devastating loss we have been looking after each other and have managed to lead positive lives, the way our parents would have wanted us to. She is currently at college studying a Btec course while working part-time at KFC. I am working as a Finance Officer at Merton Chamber of Commerce while studying Chartered Institution of Management Accounting and coaching a football club at Wimbledon Little League. I feel greatly inspired after what has happened to my parents, to support and help in any way I can, the fight against cancer. My chosen charity, Children With Cancer UK - a national children's charity funding research, welfare and campaigning projects to help children with all types of cancer - have given me the chance to do that with offering me a place on their running team in this year’s London Marathon.

Thanks,

Mathavan